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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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Collection  de 
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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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26X 


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16X 


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28X 


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tails 

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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 


; 


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to 


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Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
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whichever  applies. 

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required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
mtithod: 


1 

2 

3 

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premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
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la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
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symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

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^            »                                                              :                        > 

• 

• 

• 

.  Contents. 

CHAPTER  1. 

PAOB 

THB   HCNTBBS    , 

1 

CHAPTtR   II. 

THE   BTABVKD  INDIAN     

6 

CHAPTER  III. 

PBBPABATIONB   FOB  A    FEAST 

XI 

CHAPTER  IV. 

s 

lOai  IN  THB  BNOW  ;  

16 

CHAPTER  V. 

OABBIED   OFF 20 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  OAHP,  THB  ATTACK,  AND  THE  ESCAPE 24 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THB   ENCAHPHBNT  ON    SILVER  LAKE 29 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

HUNTING,    AND   OTHEB   HATTERS,    ON    SILVER   LAKE 88 


'    ■''! 


iiMiMOiiiiaiiMtemy 


" '  '"  """ II  iiiiiiiiMii  nuiMj  III      .mil ^pmmifimf0mm»mffmfimim> 

^  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   IX.  ,Aoi 

FISHING    EXTRAORDINARY    gg 

CHAPTER  X. 

CHANGES,  SLIDINCJ,  FISHING,  ETC 42 

CHAPTER   XI. 

A  CHANGE  IN  THE  WEATHER.       RABBITS  AND  BEARS  APPEAR      4? 

CHAPTER   XII. 
roy's  dream' f,^ 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

"SHOOSKIN"'      gg 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  JOURNEY  HOME  RESUMED  ANO  INTERRUPT3D  60 

CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  MASSACRE    ....   />> 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

VENGEANCE     , «j 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE    PURSUIT      n^ 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

INTERESTING   THOUGH   PUZZLING   DISCOVERIES 77 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

SHORT  ALLOWANCE,  AND  A  SURPRISE  88 

CHAPTER  XX. 

MORE    SURPRISING    DISCOVERIES       88 


mm^ 


FAOa 

88 

42 

PEAR  47 

61 

66 

60 

65 

71 

74 

77 

88 

•  •  ri  •  •  oo 


III"     I ' ■ MWMWIWIipjIlipPIWMMIMWIII IIIHIII 

CONTENTS.  yji 

CHAPTER  XXI.  un 

A   OLAOSOME   MEETING  QO 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

AT  SILVEB  LAKE  OXOE  MOEE Q'q 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE   HAPPIEST   MEETING  OF  ALL JQl 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
CONCLUSION   105 

» 


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I 

ei 
ai 


B 

wi 
cc 
T 


SILVER  LAKE; 

OE,    LOST    IN    THE    SNOW. 


I. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE    HUNT£B8. 

|T  wao  on  a  cold  winter  morning,  long  ago, 
tnat  Robin  Gore,  a  bold  hunter  of  the 
backwoods  of  America,  entered  his  parlour 
and  sat  him  down  to  breakfast. 

Robin's  parlour  was  also  his  dining- 
room,  and  his  drawing-room,  besides  being 
his  bed-room  and  his  kitchen.  In  fiict,  it 
was  the  only  room  in  his  wooden  hut, 
except  a  small  apartment,  opening  off  it,  which  was  a  workshop 
and  lumber-room. 

Robin's  family  consisted  of  himself,  and  his  wife,  and  his  son 
Roy,  who  was  twelre  years  of  age — and  bis  daughter  Nelly,  who 
was  eight,  or  thereabout.  In  addition  to  these,  his  household 
comprised  a  nephew,  Walter ;  and  an  Irishman,  Larry  O'Dowd. 
The  former  was  tall,  strong,  fearless,  and  twenty.  The  latter 
was  stout,  short,  powerful,  and  forty. 

The  personal  history  of  Robin  Gore,  to  the  point  at  which 
we  take  it  up,  runs  briefly  thus : — 
He  had  been  bom  in  a  backwood's  settlement,  had  grown  up 


2 


8ILTBB   LAKX. 


and  married  in  the  little  hamlet  in  which  he  had  heen  born,  and 
hanted  around  it  contentedly  until  he  was  forty  years  of  age. 
But,  as  population  increased,  he  became  restive.  He  disliked 
restraint ;  resolved  to  take  his  wife  and  f&mily  into  the  wilder- 
ness, and,  after  getting  his  nephew  and  an  Irish  adventurer  to 
agree  to  accompany  him,  carried  his  resolution  into  effect. 

He  travelled  several  hundreds  of  miles  into  the  woods — 
beyond  the  most  remote  settlement — built  three  wooden  huts, 
surrounded  them  with  a  tall  stockade,  set  up  a  flagstaff  in  the 
centre  thereof,  and  styLd  the  whole  affair  "  Fort  Enterprise." 

"  I'm  sorry  to  bring  you  to  such  a  lonesome  spot,  Molly,  my 
dear,"  said  Robin,  as  he  sat  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  he  arrived  at  the  scene  of  his 
future  home,  "  it'll  be  niyther  tryin'  at  first,  but  you'll  soon  git 
used  to  it,  and  we  won't  be  bothered  hereaway  wi'  all  the  new- 
fangled notions  o'  settlement  folk.  We'll  dwell  in  the  free  wil- 
derness, where  there  are  no  tyrannical  laws  to  hamper  a  man, 
an*  no  nonsensical  customs  to  fix  the  fashion  of  his  coat  an' 
leggins.  Besides,  you'll  have  Boy  and  Nelly  an'  Walter  an' 
Larry  to  keep  you  company,  lass,  not  to  mention  our  neighbours 
to  look  in  upon  now  and  again." 

"  Very  true,  Robin,"  replied  the  wife,  "  I  have  now  doubt  it 
will  be  quite  cheery  and  home-like  in  course  of  time." 

She  looked  out  upon  the  broad  bosom  of  the  lake  which  lay 
before  the  site  of  their  forest  home,  and  sighed.  It  was  evident 
that  Mrs.  Gore  had  a  strong  partiality  for  the  laws  and  customs 
which  her  husband  abhorred. 

The  "  neighbours  "  to  whom  Robin  referred  lived  in  a  leather 
tent  twenty  miles  distant  from  the  Fort.  They  were,  an  Indian, 
named  "  The  Black  Swan,"  his  wife,  named  "  The  White  Swan," 
and  a  half-caste  trapper,  whose  proper  name  was  unknown  to  all 
save  himself.  His  cognomen  in  the  wilderness  was  "  Slugs,"  a 
name  which  originated  in  his  frequent  use  of  clipped  pieces  of 
lead  instead  of  shot  iu  the  loading  of  his  gun. 
Bat  to  return  to  the  point  from  which  we  started : — 


7BE   HTTirntBS. 


8 


been  born,  and 
years  of  age. 
He  disliked 

nto  the  wilder- 
adventarer  to 

0  effect. 

the  woods — 
B  wooden  huts, 

flagstaff  in  the 
Saterprise." 
spot,  Molly,  my 
lien  tree  in  the 
he  scene  of  his 

you'll  soon  git 
wi'  all  the  new- 
in  the  free  wil- 
hamper  a  man, 
of  his  coat  an' 
an'  Walter  an' 

our  neighbcnrs 

re  now  donbt  it 
ne, 

lake  which  lay 

It  was  evident 

ws  and  customs 

red  in  a  leather 
vere,  an  Indian, 
B  White  Swan," 
unknown  to  all 
was  "  Slugs,"  a 
lipped  pieces  of 

i:— 


It  was  on  a  oold  wi:;ter  morning  that  Bobin  Gore  entered  his 
parlour  and  sat  him  down  to  breakfast. 

It  was  not  only  cold — very  cold ;  colder  than  ever  was  expe- 
rienced in  our  farcured  British  isles — but  it  was  also  very  dark. 
Bobin  had  risen  before  daybreak  in  order  to  visit  his  traps,  and 
shoot  some  game  as  early  in  the  day  as  possible.  The  larder 
chanced  to  be  nearly  empty  tliat  day ;  a  fact  which  was  all  the 
more  to  be  regretted  that  it  was  New  Year'sday,  and,  as  Bobinr 
remarked,  "that  day  didn't  occur  more  than  once  in  the  year." 
This  statement  Larry  O'Dowd  disputed,  affirming  that  it  occurred 
"  at  laste  twice  ivery  year — wance  at  the  beginnin'  an'  wance  at 
the  ind  of  it !  " 

"Gome  along,  lad,"  said  Bobia  trimming  the  candle  as  his 
nephew  Walter  entered,  "we'll  ha'  to  make  the  most  of  our 
time  to-day,  for  we  dine  at  sharp  five,  p.m.,  an'  our  dinner — 
leastwise  the  most  of  it — is  at  this  moment  alive  an'  kickin',  if 
it's  not  sleepin',  in  the  forest,  and  has  got  to  be  found  and  shot 
yet.     Hallo  I  boy,  where  are  you  bound  for  ?" 

"lor  the  woods,  father,  with  you  and  Walter,"  replied  his 
son  Boy,  sitting  down  and  coolly  helping  himself  to  a  portion  of 
bear's  meat  with  which  the  hunter  was  regaling  himself. 

"  Nonsense,  boy,"  said  Bobin,  somewhat  grufily. 

"  You'll  not  he  able  to  keep  up  with  us,"  added  Walter,  "  for 
we've  little  time  before  us  an'  a  long  way  to  go.'° 

"  If  I  break  down  I  can  turn  back,"  retorted  Boy. 

"Veiy  good,  please  yourself,"  said  Bobin  in  a  tone  of  indiffer- 
ence, although  his  glance  seemed  to  indicate  that  he  was  not 
sorry  to  see  his  boy  determined  to  attempt  an  expedition  which 
he  knew  from  experience  would  be  very  trying  to  a  lad  of  hin  years. 

Breakfiust  over,  the  three  hunters  clothed  themselves  in  habi- 
liments suitable  to  the  climate — leathern  coats  and  trousers 
which  were  impervious  to  the  wind ;  cloth  leggings  to  keep  the 
snow  from  the  trousers ;  leather  mocassins,  or  shoes  with 
three  pairs  of  blanket  socks  inside  of  them  ;  fur-caps  witth  ear- 
pieces ;  leather  mittens  with  an  apartment  for  the  fingers  and  a 

b2 


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4  BILVKB  LAKX. 

Bepante  chamber  for  the  thumb;  powder-horns,  shot-poneheB, 
gong,  and  snow-shoes.  These  latter  were  lii;ht  wooden  firames, 
netted  across  with  deer-skin  threads,  about  five  feet  long  and 
upwards  of  a  foot  wide.  The  ahoaa  were  of  this  enormoun  size, 
m  order  that  they  might  support  the  wearers  on  the  surfikoo  of 
the  snow,  which  was,  on  an  average,  four  feet  deep  in  the  woods. 
They  were  clumsy  to  look  at,  but  not  so  difficult  to  walk  in  as 
one  might  suppose. 

In  silence  the  three  hunters  entered  the  dork  woods  in  front 
of  Fort  Enterprise.  Bobm  went  first  and  beat  the  track,  Walter 
followed  in  his  footsteps,  Itoy  brought  np  the  rear.  The  father 
sank  about  six  inches  at  every  step,  but  the  snow  which  fell  upon 
his  snow-shoes  was  so  fine  and  dry,  owing  to  the  intense  frcst, 
that  it  fell  through  the  net-work  of  the  shoes  like  dust.  Walter 
and  Boy,  treading  in  the  footsteps,  had  less  labour  in  walking, 
but  Walter,  being  almost  as  strong  as  his  uncle,  took  lus  ^om  at 
beating  the  track  every  two  hours. 

Through  the  woods  they  went,  over  mound  and  hollow,  across 
frozen  swamp  and  plaiu,  through  brush  and  brake,  until  near 
noon,  when  they  halted  for  rest  and  refreshment.  While  Walter 
cut  firewood,  Robin  and  Roy  cleared  away  the  snow,  using  their 
snow-shoes  as  shovels,  and  prepared  their  meal.  It  was  simple ; 
a  few  mouthfhls  of  dried  meat  and  a  tin  can  of  hot  tea — the 
backwoodsman's  greatest  luxury,  next  to  his  pipe.  It  was  short, 
too.    Half  an  hour  sufficed  to  prepare  and  consume  it. 

"  Let's  see,  now,  what  we  have  got,"  said  Robin,  counting  the 
game  before  resuming  the  march. 

"More  than  enough,"  said  Walter,  lighting  his  pipe  for  a 
hurried  whiff,  "  ten  brace  of  white  grouse,  four  rabbits,  six  red 
foxes  and  a  black  one,  and  two  wolves.     We  can't  eat  all  that." 

« Surely  we  won't  eat  the  foxes  and  wolves  1 "  cried  Roy, 
laughing. 

"  Not  till  we're  starvin',"  replied  his  father.  "  Come,  let's  go 
on— are  ye  tired,  lad  ?" 

"  Fresh  as  Walter,"  said  the  boy,  proudly. 


't! 


"mmm 


shot-poneheB, 
rooden  firames, 
feet  long  and 
enonuoofl  size, 
the  BorfiMso  of 
in  the  woods, 
to  valk  in  as 

woods  in  front 
e  track,  Walter 
ar.  The  father 
which  fell  npon 
e  intense  frcst, 

dust.  Walter 
loar  in  walking, 
ook  L.a  torn  at 

i  hollow,  across 
rake,  until  near 

While  Walter 
low,  using  their 
It  was  simple; 
)f  hot  tea — the 

It  was  short, 
le  it. 
n,  counting  the 

his  pipe  for  a 
rabbits,  six  red 
eat  aU  that." 
1"  cried  Roy, 

Gome,  let's  go 


'•    '  »■ 


'  Let's  we,  uow,  (That  we  have  got,'  laid  Bobin,  connting  the  game  before  reiaming 
the  march."— i*aff«  4. 


"T^taMtm^mM'  I  - 


■  -•  1 


'  ■    . .     .         -  •  ■     •     ,  'I    ■■    ,     , 


■:■■'■■■  ^l.'-:',:-*'' 


'■:-.. -r^i^-^-K 


.    ''v.     ''•        ■'' 

::§P:l  '■■■ 


W'r' 


^nmussassm 


TH>    BTABTKT   DIDIAN. 


'•  Well,  we  won't  try  yon  too  much.  We'll  jnst  take  a  Bweep 
ronnd  by  the  Wolf's  Qlen,  an'  look  at  the  traps  there— after 
which  make  for  honue  and  have  oar  New  Year's  dnner.  Go 
ahead,  Walter,  and  beat  the  track ;  it  is  yonr  i^.ii  this  time." 

Without  speaking,  Walte.  slippod  his  feet  into  the  lines  of 
his  snow-ahoes,  extinguished  his  pipe,  and  led  the  way  once  more 
through  the  pathless  forest. 


I 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE    BTABTF.D   INDIAN. 


N  the  depths  of  the  sfme  forest,  and  not 
far  from  the  locality  to  which  we  have 
introduced  our  reader,  a  Bed  Indian  was 
dragging  his  limbs  wearily  along  over  the 
nntroduec  snow. 

The  attenuated  frame  of  this  son  of 
the  soil,  his  hollow  cheeks  and  glaring 
eye-balls,  his  belt,  drawn  with  extreme 
tightness  ronnd  his  waist,  to  repress  the  gnawings  of  hunger,  as 
well  as  his  enfeebled  gait,  proved  that  he  was  approaching  the 
last  stage  of  starvation. 

For  many  weeks  Wapaw  had  been  travelling  in  the  woods, 
guided  on  his  way  by  the  stars,  and  by  those  slight  and  delicate 
signs  of  the  wilderness — such  as  the  difference  of  thickness  in 
the  bark  on  the  north,  from  that  on  the  south  side  of  a  tree — 
which  are  perceptible  only  to  the  keen  eye  of  an  Indian,  or  a 
white  man  whose  life  has  been  spent  in  the  wilderness. 

But  Wapaw  was  a  very  different  man  when  he  quitted  his 
tribe  from  what  he  was  at  the  time  we  introduce  him  to  our 
reader.  Strong,  wiry,  upright,  and  lithe  as  a  panther,  he  left 
his  wigwam  and  his  wife,  and  turned  his  face  towards  the  rising 
sun ;  but  the  season  was  a  severe  one  and  game  was  scarce ; 
from  the  very  beginning  of  his  journey  he  had  found  it  difficult 


a. 


„^^  -J 


6 


BU.VKB  LAU. 


to  rappiv  himself  with  a  saffioieney  of  food.  Towards  the 
middle  ui  he  was  on  short  allowance,  and  mnoh  reduced  in 
strength;  and  now,  near  its  termination,  he  was,  as  we  have 
said,  almost  in  the  last  stage  of  starvation. 

Fort  Enterprise  was  Wapaw's  goal.  He  had  never  been  there 
before,  but  from  the  description  of  the  place  and  its  locality  given 
by  those  of  his  kindred  who  had  visited  Robin  Oore,  he  was  able 
to  direct  his  march  with  unerring  certainty  towi»rds  it.  Of 
coarse  as  ho  drew  near  to  it  he  could  not  ascertain  his  exact  dis- 
tance— whether  he  was  a  day  or  several  days'  journey  off^but 
from  the  tracks  of  Robin's  snow-shoes,  which  he  crossed  more 
than  once,  he  guessed  that  ho  was  nearing  the  Fort,  and  pushed 
on  with  renewed  hope  and  energy. 

Robin,  however,  wa^  an  active  hunter.  He  often  made  long 
and  rapid  marches  from  his  lonely  dwelling — sometimes  staying 
away  a  week  or  two  at  a  time  even  in  winter ;  so  that  Wapaw 
thought  himself  nearer  Fort  Enterprise  than  he  really  was  when 
he  first  discovered  the  bold  hunter's  tracks.  When,  at  length, 
he  did  arrive  at  less  than  a  day's  journey  from  the  Fort,  he  was 
not  aware  of  its  close  proximity,  ^nd,  having  tasted  nothing 
whatever  for  two  days,  he  felt  the  approach  of  that  terrib'e  state 
of  exhaustion  r/hich  precedes  death. 

It  was  a  <u)mowhat  str>rmy  day  when  the  poor  Indian's  strength 
finally  broke  down.  Hitherto  he  had  pushed  forward  with  some 
degree  of  hope,  but  jn  the  morning  of  this  day  a  broken  branch 
caught  his  sncTf-suoe  and  tripped  him.  At  any  other  time  the 
fall  would  have  been  a  trifle,  but  in  his  weak  condition  it  acted 
like  the  last  straw  which  breaks  the  camel's  back.  Wapaw  rose 
with  difficulty,  and  brubhmg  the  snow  firom  his  eyes,  looked 
earnestly  at  his  snow-shous,  well  knowing  that  if  they  had  been 
broken  in  the  fall  his  power  of  advancing  would  have  been  taken 
away  and  his  fate  sealed,  for  he  had  neither  strength  nor  energy 
left  to  repair  them.  They  were  uninjured,  however,  so  he  once 
more  attempted  to  stagger  on. 

A  slight  rising  ground  lay  before  him.    To  ascend  this  was  a 


pjiUj&i   '  ■■ 


MtnM9 


Towards  the 
Boh  rednoed  in 
■i  OS  we  have 

9Ter  been  there 
Is  locality  given 
\re,  he  was  able 
iwbrds  it.  Of 
his  exact  dis- 
Soumej  off— bat 
16  crossed  more 
i'ort,  and  poshed 

often  made  long 

metimes  staying 

so  that  Wapaw 

really  was  when 

Vhen,  at  length, 

he  Fort,  he  was 

g  tasted  nothing 

liat  terrible  state 

Indian's  strength 
rward  with  some 
a  broken  branch 
f  other  time  the 
ondition  it  acted 
i.  Wapaw  rose 
iis  eyes,  looked 
if  they  had  been 
have  been  taken 
ngth  nor  energy 
rever,  so  he  once 

seend  this  was  a 


TBI   STABVU)  IMDIAM.  7 

labonr  so  great  that  he  almost  sank  in  the  midst  of  it.  He 
reached  the  top,  however,  and  gazed  eagerly  before  him.  He 
had  gazed  thus  at  the  top  of  every  rising  ground  that  he  had 
reached  daring  the  hut  two  days,  in  the  hopii  of  seeing  some  sign 
of  the  Fort. 

A  deep  sigh  escaped  him  as  he  rested  his  hands  on  the  muzzle 
of  his  gun,  and  his  grave  coontenance  was  overspread  with  a 
look  of  profoond  melancholy.  Fur  the  first  time  in  his  life,  the 
once  stoat  and  active  Wapaw  had  reached  the  point  of  giving 
way  to  despair.  A  wide  open  plain  stretched  oat  before  him. 
The  cold  wind  was  howling  wildly  across  it,  driving  the  keen 
snowdrift  before  it  in  whirling  olonds.  Even  a  strong  man  might 
have  shrank  from  exposing  himself  on  snob  a  plain  and  to  such  a 
blast  on  that  bitter  arctic  day.  Wapaw  felt  that  in  his  case  to 
cross  it  woald  be  certain  doath  ;  so,  with  the  calm  philosophy  of 
a  Bed  Indian,  he  made  np  his  mind  to  lay  him  down  and  die  I 

His  manner  of  preparing  for  his  end  was  somewhat  singolar. 
Taming  aside  into  tbe  woods,  he  set  about  making  an  encamp- 
ment with  as  much  vigour  as  he  could  summon  up.  Clearing 
away  the  snow  from  the  roots  of  a  large  spreading  pine  tree,  he 
strjiwed  branches  on  the  ground,  and  thus  made  9  rade  couch. 
On  this  he  spread  his  blanket.  Then  he  cut  some  firewood 
with  the  axe  that  hung  at  his  side,  and  soon  kindled,  by  means  of 
flint,  steel,  and  tinder,  a  good  fire.  Seating  himself  before  the 
warm  blaze,  the  exhaosted  man  rested  awhile,  with  his  legs 
drawn  together  and  his  head  resting  on  his  knees. 

He  sat  so  long  thus  that  he  nearly  fell  asleep.  Presently  he 
roused  himself,  and  proceeded  to  make  a  doae  examination  of 
his  wallet  and  fire-bag — tbe  latter  being  a  beautifully-ornamented 
pouch  which  Indians  and  fur-traders  wear  at  their  belts,  for  the 
purpose  of  containing  the  materials  for  producing  fire,  besides 
pipes  and  tobacco. 

Poor  Wapaw  had  already  searched  his  wallet  and  fire-bag 
twice,  without  finding  a  crumb  of  food  or  •  morsel  of  tobacco. 
He  knew  well  that  they  were  empty,  yet  he  tamed  them  inside 


1 

I 


i| 


\ 


"'T 


I! 


8 


nLTaB   LAU. 


oat,  and  examined  the  ieama  and  oornen  with  aa  mnoh  earneai- 
neiH  aa  if  he  really  expected  to  find  relief  from  hia  aafferinga 
there. 

There  waa  no  expreHRion  of  pain  on  the  red  man'a  face — 
only  a  look  of  profound  melancholy. 

He  laid  aside  the  fire-bag  after  a  little  while,  and  then  quietly 
drew  hia  knife,  and  cot  a  piece  of  leather  from  the  skirt  of  hia 
hunting  coat.  The  leather  had  been  dried  and  smoked,  and  con- 
tained no  substance  whatoror  that  could  sustain  life.  Wapaw 
was  aware  of  this — nevortholess  he  singed  a  portion  of  it  until 
it  was  reduced  almost  to  ashes,  and  mingling  a  little  snow  with 
this,  ate  it  greedily. 

Then,  raising  his  oycs  to  the  sky  with  a  long  earnest  gaze,  he 
sat  immorable,  until  the  sinking  fire  and  the  increasing  cold 
recalled  his  wandering  faculties. 

There  was  a  wild,  glassy  look  about  the  Indian's  eyes  now, 
which  probably  resulted  from  exhaustion.  He  seemed  to  struggle 
several  times  to  rouse  himself  before  be  succeeded  ;  shuddering 
with  intense  cold,  he  crept  to  the  little  pile  of  firewood,  and 
placed  several  billets  on  the  fire,  which  speedily  blazed  up  again, 
and  the  dying  man  cowered  over  it,  regardless  of  the  smoke 
which  ever  and  anon  wreathed  round  his  drooping  head. 

In  a  few  minutes  Wapaw  started  up  as  if  new  energy  had  been 
infused  into  him.  He  placed  his  gun,  axe,  fire-bag,  and  powder- 
horn  by  themselves  on  the  ground ;  then  he  wrapped  himself  in 
his  blanket  and  lay  slowly  down  beside  them,  with  his  feet 
towards  the  fire.  For  a  few  minutes  he  lay  on  his  back,  gazing 
earnestly  upwards,  while  his  lips  moved  slowly,  but  no  sound 
issued  from  them.  Then  he  turned  wearily  on  his  side,  and, 
covering  his  bead  with  the  blanket  and  turning  his  face  towards 
the  ground,  he  resigned  himself  to  death. 

But  Qod  had  ordained  that,  at  that  time,  the  red  man  should 
not  die. 

About  the  time  when  he  lay  down,  our  hunters  emerged  upon 
the  plain  which  had  caused  the  Indian  to  despair. 


\u  mnoh  earnesi- 
hii  infferings 

sd  man'a  face — 

and  then  qnietly 

the  skirt  of  his 

smoked,  and  con- 

ain  life.     Wapaw 

)ortion  of  it  until 

little  snow  with 

I  earnest  gaze,  he 
le  increasbg  cold 

[ndian's  ejes  now, 
seemed  to  struggle 
leded  ;  shuddering 
of  firewood,  and 
y  blazed  np  again, 
less  of  the  smoke 
ng  head. 

r  energy  had  been 
i-bag,  and  powder- 
wrapped  himself  in 
9m,  with  his  feet 
n  his  back,  gazing 
rly,  but  no  sound 
on  his  side,  and, 
;  his  face  towards 

le  red  man  should 

ters  emerged  upon 
ir. 


MiMimiAmUmiMiimiH)' 


THI   ITABTtD  IMOUN.  W 

"  It's  of  no  use  goin'  further,"  observed  Robin,  as  he  and  his 
companions  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  forest  and  looked  across  the 
plain,  "  the  wind  blows  too  hard  and  thn  drift  is  keen,  besides 
there  ain't  much  to  be  got  hereaway,  even  in  seasons  of  plenty." 

••  Father  I  is  that  smoke  risin'  over  the  bluff  yonder  ?"  asked 
Roy,  pointing  with  his  finger  as  ho  spoke. 

•'  No  doubt  of  it,  lad." 

"  Indians,  may  be,"  said  Walter. 

Robin  shook  his  head.  *'  Don't  think  so,"  said  he,  "  for  the 
red-skins  don't  often  come  to  see  ine  at  this  time  o'  the  year. 
But  we'll  go  see;  an'  look  to  your  primin',  lads —if  it's  a  war 
party  we'll  ha'  to  fight,  mayhap,  if  we  don't  run." 

The  three  hunters  crossed  the  plain  in  the  teeth  of  the  howling 
drift,  and  cautiouHly  approached  the  bluff  referred  to  by  Roy, 
and  from  behind  which  the  smoke  ascended. 

«'  It's  a  cawp  fire,"  whispered  Robin,  as  he  glanced  hack  at 
his  companions,  "  but  I  see  no  one  there.  They  must  have  just 
left  the  place." 

There  was  a  shade  of  anxiety  in  the  hunter's  voice  as  he 
spoke,  for  he  thought  of  Fort  Enterprise,  its  defenceless  con- 
dition, and  the  possibility  of  the  Indians  having  gone  thither. 

"  They  can't  have  gone  to  the  Fort,"  said  Walter,  "  else  we 
shonld  have  seen  their  tracks  on  the  way  hither." 

"  Come,"  said  Robin,  stepping  forward  quickly,  "  we  can  see 
their  tracks,  now,  anyhow,  arc!  follow  them  up,  and  if  they  lead 
to  the  Fort " 

The  hunter  did  not  finish  the  sentence,  for  at  that  moment  he 
caught  sight  of  the  recumbent  form  of  Wapaw  in  the  camp. 

"Hist!  A  red-skin  alone  and  asleep.  Well,  I  never  did 
'zpect  to  see  that." 

" Mayhap,  he's  a  decoy-duck,"  suggested  Walter.  "Better 
look  sharp  out." 

Robin  and  Roy  heeded  not  the  cantiou.  They  at  once  went 
forward,  and  the  father  lifted  the  blanket  fifom  the  Indian's  head. 

•*  Dead!"  exclaimed  Roy,  in  a  solemn  tone.  •     .  ,. 


n'lWIU'inc.iirtfiflifiwtw. 


10 


BILVEB  LAKE. 


"  Not  yet,  lad  !  bat  I  do  b'lieTe  the  poor  eritter'B  a'mosi  gone 
wi'  Btarration.  Come,  bestir  yon,  boys — roaso  ap  the  fire,  and 
uoil  the  kettle." 

Walter  and  Boy  did  not  require  a  second  bidding.  The  kettle 
was  ere  long  singiag  on  a  blazing  fire.  The  Indian's  limbs  were 
chafed  and  wanned :  a  can  of  hot  tea  was  administered,  and 
Wapaw  soon  revived  sufficiently  to  look  np  and  thank  his 
deliverers. 

"  Now,  as  good  luck  has  it,  I  chanced  to  leave  my  hand-sled 
at  the  Wolf's  Qlen.     Go,  fetch  it.  Boy,''  said  Bobin. 

The  lad  set  off  at  once,  and,  as  the  glen  was  not  far  distant, 
soon  returned  with  a  flat  wooden  sledge,  six  feet  long  by  eighteen 
inche>  broad,  on  which  trappers  are  wont  to  pack  their  game  in 
winter.  On  this  sledge  Wapaw  was  firmly  tied,  and  dragged  by 
the  hunters  to  Fort  Suterprise. 

'*  Hast  got  a  deer,  fatlier?'  cried  little  Nelly,  as  she  bounded 
in  advance  of  her  mother  to  meet  the  returning  party. 

"  No,  Nelly — 'tis  dearer  game  than  that." 

"  What,  a  red- skin  i "  exclaimed  Dame  Gore,  in  snrprise  ; 
"  is  he  dead  ?" 

"  No,  nor  likely  to  die,"  said  Bobin,  "  he's  in  a  starvin'  state, 
though,  an'  '11  be  none  the  worse  of  a  bit  of  our  New  Year's 
dinner.  Here  is  game  enough  for  one  meal  an'  more;  come, 
lass,  get  it  ready  as  fast  as  may  be." 

So  saying,  the  bold  hunter  ppssed  thrcugh  the  Fort  Gate, 
dragging  the  red  man  behind  him. 


\ 


V  ^" 


^ 


"WW 


Pifp 


iy{||ggf!ii^;;f,.'iW!ifqwMy;;'i!^!<';!;<w|i;^ 


[iter's  a'mosl  gone 
ap  the  fire,  and 

]ing.     The  kettle 

dian's  limbs  were 

dministered,  and 

and    thank    his 

eave  my  hand-sled 

iobin. 

as  not  far  distant, 

t  long  by  eighteen 

ack  their  game  in 

ed,  and  dragged  by 

ily,  as  she  bounded 
{ party. 

jtore,  in  sorprise  ; 

in  a  starrin'  state, 
of  our  New  Year's 
i  an'  more;  come, 

;h  the  Fort  Gate, 


11  .  ,,..;  .:^. 

CHAPTER  III.  s  '  i 

FBEPARATIONS   FOB   A   FEAST.  i'        ' 

|HY  SO  grave,  Robin?"  inquired  Mrs. 
Gore,  when  her  husband  returned  to  the 
parlour  after  seeing  Wapaw  idid  in  a 
warm  comer  of  the  kitchen,  and  com- 
mitted to  the  caie  of  Larry  O'Dowd. 

"  Molly,  my  dear,  it's  of  no  use  con- 

cealin'  things  from  yon,  'cause  when  bad 

luck  falls  we  must  just  face  it.  This  Ii^ua 

— ^Wapaw,  he  calls  himself— tells  me  he  has  oom'd  here  a-purpose, 

as  fast  as  he  could,  to  say  that  his  tribe  have  resolved  to  attack 

me,  bum  the  Fort,  kill  all  the  men,  and  carry  you  off  int^  slavery." 

"  God  help  me!  can  this  be  true  ?" 

"  Trae  enough,  I  don't  doubt,  'cause  Wapaw  has  the  face  of 
an  honest  man,  and  I  believe  in  faces.  He  says  some  of  the 
worst  men  of  his  tribe  are  in  power  just  now ;  that  they  want  the 
contents  of  mv  store  without  paying  for  them  ;  that  he  tried  to 
get  them  to  give  up  the  notion,  but  failed.  On  seeing  that  they 
were  bent  on  it,  he  said  he  was  going  off  to  hunt,  and  came 
straight  here  to  warn  me.  He  says  they  talked  of  starting  for 
the  Fort  two  days  after  he  did,  and  that  he  pushed  on  as  fast  as 
he  could  travel,  so  it's  not  likely  they'll  be  here  for  two  or  three 
days  yet.  I'll  get  ready  for  them,  hows'ever,  and  when  the 
reptiles  do  come  they'll  meet  with  a  warm  reception,  I  warrant 
them ;  meanwhile,  do  yon  go  and  get  dinner  ready.  We  won't  let 
such  varmints  interfere  with  our  New  Year's  feast." 

While  Kobin's  wife  went  to  her  larder,  his  children  were  in  the 
kitchen  tending  the  Indian  with  earnest  solicitude,  and  Larry  was 
preparing  a  little  soup  for  him. 

«  Do  yon  like  rabbit  soup?"  asked  Nelly,  kneeling  1>eside  the 
pallet  of  pine-branches  on  which  Wapaw  hj. 

The  Indian  smiled,  and  said  something  in  his  native  tongue. 


r?tm  .yir^^Uy -w^  ;^'- 


\ 


ipi^i.  ■>...  ■l.,^„...-,-i..,-.^*.-..-.i  :i.-.-Im.0^,M^.^.^: 


12 


BILVEB   LAKE. 


"  Snre  he  don't  onderstan'  ye,"  exclaimed  Larry,  as  he  bustled 
in  an  energetic  way  amongst  his  pots  and  pans. 

"  Let  me  try  him  with  Gree,"  said  Roy,  kneeling  beside  his 
sister,  "  I  know  a  little — a  very  little — Cree." 

Boy  tried  his  "very  little  Gree,"  bnt  withoot  saccess. 

"  It's  o'  no  use,"  he  said,  "father  must  talk  to  him,  for/t0 
knows  every  langnage  on  earth  I  believe." 

Roy's  idea  of  the  nnmber  of  languages  "  on  earth  "  was  very 
limited. 

"  Och !  don't  bother  him,  see,  here  is  a  lingo  that  every  wan 
onderstan'^,"  cried  Larry,  carrying  a  can  of  hot  soup  torrards 
Wapaw. 

"  Oh  let  me  I  do  let  mo  \"  cried  Nelly,  jumping  up  and 
seizing  the  can. 

"  Be  all  manes,"  said  Lairy,  resigning  it. 

The  child  once  more  knelt  by  the  side  of  the  Indian  and  held 

0  can  to  him,  while  he  conveyed  the  soup  to  his  lips  with  a 
trembling,  unsteady  hand.  The  eyes  of  the  poor  man  glittered  as 
he  gazed  eagerly  at  the  food,  which  he  ate  with  the  avidity  of  a 
half-famished  wolf. 

His  nurses  looked  on  with  great  satisfaction,  and  when  Wapaw 
glanced  up  from  time  to  time  in  their  facee,  he  was  advised  to 
continue  his  meal  with  nods  and  smiles  of  goodwill. 

Great  preparations  were  mado  for  the  dinner  of  that  New  Year's 
Day.  Those  who  "  dwell  at  bome  at  ease  "  have  no  idea  of  the 
peculiar  feelings  with  which  the  world's  wanderers  hail  the  season 
of  Christmas  and  New  Year.  Surrounded  as  they  usually  are  by 
strange  scenes,  and  ignorant  as  they  are  of  what  friends  at  home 
are  doing  or  thinking,  they  lay  hold  of  this  season  as  being  one 
point  at  least  in  the  circle  of  the  year  in  which  they  can  unite 
with  the  home  circle,  and,  at  the  same  time,  commemorate  with 
them  the  birth  of  the  blessed  Saviour  of  mankind,  and  think 
with  them  of  absent  friends.  Much,  therefore,  as  the  "happy  " 
season  is  made  of  in  the  ''  old  country,"  it  is  made  more  of, 
if  possible,  in  the  colonies ;  especially  on  the  outskirts  of  the 


J,  SB  ho  bustled 

iling  beside  his 

nccesB. 

Ik  to  him,  for  lie 

earth"  was  very 

that  every  wan 
hot  soup  towards 

jamping   up  and 


e  Indian  and  held 
o  his  lips  with  a 
ar  man  glittered  as 
h  the  avidity  of  a 

and  when  Wapaw 
he  was  advised  to 
twill. 

of  that  New  Year's 
lave  no  idea  of  the 
ers  hail  the  Season 
hey  usually  are  by 
»t  friends  at  home 
saaon  as  being  one 
ch  they  can  unite 
sommemorate  with 
inkind,  and  think 
,  as  the  "  happy  " 

is  made  more  of^ 
e  outskirts  of  the 


PBSPAIUTIONB    rOB  A  RABT. 


18 


world,  where  the  adventurous  and  daring  have  pitched  their 
tents. 

Of  course  Bobin  Gore  and  hia  household  did  not  think  of  the 
*'  old  country,"  for  they  were  descendants  of  settlers ;  but  they 
had  imbibed  the  spirit  of  the  old  country  from  their  forefathers, 
and  thought  of  those  well-remembered  friends  whom  they  had  left 
behind  them  in  the  settlements. 

Notwithstanding  the  deby  caused  by  the  conveying  of  Wapaw 
to  the  Fort,  the  hunters  had  walked  so  fast  that  there  was  still 
some  time  to  spare  before  dinner  should  be  ready. 

Boy  resolved  to  devote  this  time  to  a  ramble  in  the  woods  with 
his  sister  Nelly.  Accordingly  the  two  put  on  their  snow-shoes, 
and,  merely  saying  to  their  mother  that  they  were  going  to  take  a 
run  in  the  woods,  set  forth. 

Now.,  it  must  be  known  that  Mrs.  Gore  had  looked  forward  to 
New  Yt^ar's  Day  dinner  with  great  interest  and  much  anxiety. 
There  was  a  general  feeling  of  hilarity  and  excitement  among  the 
male  members  of  the  self  exiled  family  that  extended  itself  to  the 
good  woman,  and  induced  her  to  resolve  that  the  entire  household 
should  have  what  Walter  styled  a  "  rare  blow-out  I"  During  the 
whole  morning  she  had  been  busy  with  the  preparation  of  the 
various  dishes,  among  which  were  a  tart  made  of  cloudberry 
jam,  a  salt  goose,  and  a  Icmp  of  bear's  ham,  besides  the  rabbits 
and  ptarmigan  which  had  been  shot  that  day. 

"  That's  the  way  to  do  it,  Molly,"  cried  Robin,  as  he  opened  the 
door  and  peept^d  in  upon  his  wife  during  the  height  and  heat  of 
her  culinary  labours  ;  "  keep  the  pot  bilin',  my  dear,  and  don't 
spare  the  butter  this  day.    It  only  comes  once  a  year,  you  know." 

"  Twice,"  muttered  Lany,  in  a  low  voice,  as  he  stirred  the 
contents  of  a  large  pot  which  hung  over  the  fire. 

"  And  see  that  you  look  after  Wapaw,"  continued  Bobin. 
"  Don't  give  him  too  much  at  first,  it  'U  hurt  him." 

"  No  fear  of  that,"  replied  Larry,  "  he's  got  so  much  a'ready 
that  he  couldn't  howld  another  morsel  av  he  was  to  try." 

"  Well,  well,  take  care  of  him,  anyhow,"  said  Bobin,  with  a 


14 


SILVBB   LAXB. 


laugh,  "  meanwhile  I'll  go  Beo  after  the  defences  o'  the  Fnii,  and 
make  all  snng." 

By  dint  of  unwearied  perseTeranoe  the  dinner  was  eooked,  and 
then  it  ooonrred  to  Robin  to  ask  where  the  children  were,  bat  no 
one  could  tell,  so  the  hunter  remarked  quietly  that  they  would 
*<  doubtless  make  their  appearance  in  a  short  while." 

Gradually  the  dinner  reached  that  interesting  puint  which  is 
usually  styled  "  ready  to  dish."  Whereupon  Robin  again  asked 
where  the  children  were.  8till  no  one  could  tell,  so  he  said  he 
would  go  out  and  hail  them.  Loudly  and  long  did  the  hunter 
call,  but  no  one  answered ;  fJien  he  he  mado  a  rapid  search  in  and 
about  the  Fort,  but  they  were  not  to  be  found.  Moreover,  a  snow 
storm  had  begun  to  set  in,  and  the  drift  rendered  it  difficult  to 
distinguish  tracks  in  the  snow. 

At  last  the  day's  labours  were  brought  to  a  close.  Dinner  was 
served,  and  smoked  invitingly  on  the  table.  The  party  only 
awaited  the  return  of  Robin  with  the  children.  In  a  few  minutes 
Robin  entered  hastily. 

"  Molly,"  said  he,  in  a  tone  of  anxiety,  "  the  foolish  things 
have  gone  into  the  woods  I  think.  Come,  lads,  we  must  hunt 
them  down.     It's  snowin'  hard,  so  we've  no  time  to  lose." 

Walter  and  LaiTy  at  once  put  on  their  capotes,  fur  caps,  and 
snow-shoes,  and  sallied  forth,  leaving  Mrs.  Gore  seated  alone, 
and  in  a  state  of  deep  anxiety,  by  tlie  side  of  her  untasted  New 
Year's  Day  dinner. 


^■!t.aPAl-l'  'iyjHjt'.-.-'-Sli?  BWIT  WifWHHHi .  i«*i"i,';i>f  WH^""St'!'^."!iiyff.!^!V,t-ffli'.' 


the  Fnii,  and 

ras  eooked,  and 

n  were,  bat  no 

hat  they  woold 

I  puint  which  is 

bin  again  asked 

1,  so  he  said  he 

did  the  hunter 

>id  search  in  and 

U[oreoyer,  a  snow 

red  it  difficult  to 

ose.  Dinner  was 
The  party  only 
In  a  few  minutes 

the  foolish  things 
is,  we  must  hunt 
3  to  lose." 
tes,  fur  caps,  and 
ore  seated  alone, 
ler  nntasted  New 


16 

CHAPTER  IV.  ;,   ^ 

LOST     IN     TUB     SNOW.         /v- ■:•■«>  ^  ■'{    '^iW'-'^v'' 

HEN  Boy  anJ  Nelly  set  out  for  a  ramble 
they  had  at  first  no  intention  of  going 
beyond  their  usual  haunts  in  the  woods 
around  the  Fort ;  but  Roy  had  been  in- 
spirited by  his  successful  march  that  day 
with  his  father  and  Walter,  and  felt  in- 
clined to  show  Nelly  some  new  scenes 
to  which  they  had  not,  up  to  that  time, 
t.  ared  to  penetrate  together. 

The  snow  storm,  already  referred  to,  had  commenced  gradually. 
When  the  children  set  iforth  on  their  ramble  only  a  few  flakes 
were  falling,  but  they  had  not  been  away  half  an  hour  when  snow 
fell  so  thickly  that  they  could  not  see  distinctly  more  than  a  few 
yards  ahead  of  them.  There  was  no  wind,  however,  so  they 
continued  to  advance,  rather  pleased  than  otherwise  with  the 
state  of  things. 

"  Oh,  I  do  like  to  see  falling  snow,"  cried  Nelly,  with  a  burst 
of  animation. 

"  So  do  I,"  said  Boy,  looking  back  at  his  sister  with  a  bright 
smile,  "  and  I  like  it  best  when  it  comes  down  thick  and  heavy, 
in  big  flakes,  on  a  very  calm  day,  don't  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  oh  it's  so  nice;"  re&ponded  Nelly  sympathetically. 
They  paused  for  a  few  minutes  to  shake  some  of  the  snow  from 
their  garments,  and  beat  their  hands  together,  for  their  fingers 
were  cold,  and  to  laugh  boisterously,  for  their  hearts  were  merry. 
Then  they  resumed  their  march.  Boy  beating  the  track  manfully 
and  Nelly  following  in  his  footsteps. 

In  passing  beneath  a  tall  fir-tree  Boy  chanced  to  touch  a  twig. 
The  result  was  literally  overwhelming,  for  in  a  moment  he  was 
almost  buried  in  snow,  to  the  unutterable  delight  of  his  sister. 


J 


^f"  I    >HMIll.^«'i»)(IJJi 


'r^r''''wii",'.^»i-'-y./t'.''jWM!!p.i«yT|i 


K 


16 


BILTKB  LAKI. 


who  stood  Boreaming  with  laughter  as  the  onfortanate  boy 
straggled  to  disentomb  himself. 

In  those  northern  wilds,  where  snow  falls  frequently  and  in 
great  abondance,  masses  are  constantly  aconmalating  on  the 
branches  of  trees,  particularly  on  the  pipes,  on  the  broad  flat 
branches  of  which  these  masses  attain  to  considerable  size.  A 
slight  tonoh  is  generally  sufficient  to  bring  these  down,  but,  being 
soft,  they  never  do  any  injury  worth  mentioning. 

When  Roy  had  fairly  emerged  from  the  snow  he  joined  his 
sister  in  the  laugh,  but  suddenly  he  stopped,  and  his  face  became 
very  grave. 

«  What's  the  matter  ?"  asked  Nelly,  with  an  anxious  look. 

"  My  snow-shoe's  broken,"  said  Roy. 

There  was  greater  cause  for  anxiety  on  account  of  this  accident 
than  the  reader  is  perhaps  aware  of.  It  may  be  easily  understood 
that  in  a  country  where  the  snow  averages  four  feet  in  depth  no 
one  can  walk  half-a-mile  without  snow-shoes,  without  being 
thoroughly  exhausted ;  on  the  other  hand  u  man  can  walk  thirty 
or  forty  miles  a  day  by  means  of  snow-shoes. 

"  Can't  you  mend  it  ?"  asked  Nelly. 

Boy,  who  had  been  carefully  examining  the  damaged  shoe, 
shook  his  head. 

"  I've  nothing  here  to  do  it  with  ;  besides,  it's  an  awful  smash. 
I  must  just  try  to  scramble  home  the  best  way  I  can.  Come,  it's 
not  very  far,  we'll  only  be  a  bit  late  for  dinner." 

The  snow-shoe  having  been  bandaged,  after  a  fashion,  with  a 
pocket-handkerchief,  the  little  wanderers  began  to  retrace  their 
steps  ;  but  this  was  now  a  matter  of  extreme  difficulty,  owing  to 
the  quantity  of  snow  which  had  fallen  and  almost  obliterated  the 
tracks.  The  broken  shoe,  also,  was  constantly  giving  way,  so 
that  ere  long  the  children  became  bewildered  as  well  as  anxious, 
and  soon  lost  the  track  of  their  outward  march  altogether.  To 
make  matters  worse,  the  wind  began  to  blow  clouds  of  snow-drift 
into  their  faces,  compelling  them  to  seek  the  denser  parts  of  the 
forest  for  shelter. 


^ 


boy 


^ 


LOST  ni  TBS  BMOW.  17 

They  wandered  on,  however,  in  the  belief  that  they  were 
drawing  nearer  home  every  step,  and  Boy,  whose  hmrt  was 
stoat  and  brave,  cheered  np  his  sister's  spirit  so  much  that  she 
began  to  feel  quite  confident  their  troubles  would  soon  be  over. 

Presently  all  their  hopes  were  dashed  to  the  ground  by  their 
suddenly  emerging  upon  an  open  space,  close  to  the  very  spot 
where  the  snow-mass  had  fallen  on  Boy's  Lead.  After  the  first 
feeling  of  alarm  and  disappointment  had  subsided.  Boy  plucked 
up  heart  and  encouraged  Nellie  by  pointing  out  to  her  that  they 
had  at  all  events  recovered  their  old  track,  which  they  would  be 
very  careful  not  to  lose  sight  of  again. 

Poor  Nelly  whimpered  a  little,  partly  firom  cold  and  hunger 
as  well  as  from  disappointment,  as  she  listened  to  her  brother's 
words ;  then  she  dried  her  eyes  and  said  she  was  ready  to  begin 
again.  So  they  set  off  once  more.  But  the  difficulty  of  discerning 
the  track,  if  great  at  first,  was  greater  now,  because  the  falling 
and  drifting  snow  had  well  nigh  covered  it  np  completely.  In  a 
very  few  minutes  Boy  stopped,  and,  confessing  that  he  had  lost 
it  ogam,  proposed  to  return  once  more  to  their  starting  point  to 
try  to  recover  it.  Nelly  agreed,  for  she  was  by  this  time  too  much 
fatigued  and  alarmed  to  have  any  will  of  her  own,  and  was  quite 
ready  to  do  whatever  she  was  told  without  question. 

After  wandering  about  for  nearly  an  hour  in  this  state  of 
uncertainty,  Boy  at  last  stopped,  and,  putting  his  arm  round  his 
sister's  waist,  said  that  he  had  lost  himself  altogether  1  Poor 
Nelly,  whose  heart  had  been  gradually  sinking,  fairly  broke  down ; 
she  hid  her  face  in  hor  brother's  bosom,  and  wept. 

"Gome  now,  don't  do  that,  dear  Nell,"  said  Boy,  tenderly,  "I'll 
tell  you  what  we  shall  do — we'll  camp  in  the  snow  I  We  have 
often  done  it  close  to  the  house,  you  know,  for  fun,  so  we'll  do  it 
now  in  earnest." 

"  But  it's  so  dark  and  cold,"  sobbed  Nelly,  looking  round  with 
a  shudder  into  the  dark  recesses  of  the  forest,  which  were  by  that 
tiniA  enshrouded  by  the  gathering  shades  of  night,  "  and  I'm  to 
hungry  too  I    Oh  me  i  what  thaU  we  do  ?" 

o 


18 


■ILTXB  LAKI. 


•'  Now  don't  get  lo  despairing,"  urged  Roy,  whose  oonrage  rose 
in  proportion  as  his  sister's  sank,  "  it's  not  snob  an  awfal  business 
after  all,  for  fatbiar  is  sure  to  soonr  the  woods  in  search  of  ns,, 
an'  if  we  only  get  a  comfortable  encampment  made,  an'  a  roarin' 
fire  kindled,  why,  we'll  sit  beside  it  an'  tell  stories  till  they  find 
ns.  They'll  be  sore  to  see  the  fire,  yea  know,  so  come — let's  to 
work." 

Roy  said  this  so  oheerfnlly  that  the  child  felt  b  little  comforted, 
dried  her  eyes,  and  said  she  would  "  help  to  make  the  camp." 

This  matter  of  making  an  encampment  in  the  snow,  although 
laborious  work,  was  by  no  means  a  novelty  to  these  children  of 
the  backwoods.  They  had  often  been  taught  how  to  do  it  by 
Cousin  Walter  and  Larry  O'Dowd,  and  had  made  "  playing  at 
camps "  their  chief  amusement  in  fine  winter  days.  When, 
therefore,  they  found  theinselv^s  compelled  to  "  camp  out "  from 
necessity,  neither  of  them  was  at  a  loss  how  to  proceed.  Roy 
drew  a  circle  in  the  snow,  about  three  years  in  diameter,  at  the 
foot  of  a  large  tree,  and  then  both  set  to  work  to  dig  a  hole  in  this 
space,  using  their  snow-shoes  an  shovels.  It  took  an  hour's  hard 
work  to  reach  the  ground,  and  when  they  did  so  the  piled-up  snow 
all  round  raised  the  walls  of  this  hole  to  the  height  of  about  six  feet. 

"Now  for  bedding,"  cried  Roy,  scrambling  over  the  walls  of 
their  camp  and  going  into  the  wr  ods  in  search  of  a  young  pine 
tree,  while  Nelly  sat  down  on  the  ground  to  rest  after  her  toil. 
.  It  was  a  dark  night,  and  the  woods  were  so  profoundly  obscured, 
that  Roy  had  to  grope  about  for  some  time  before  he  found  a 
suitable  tree.  Cutting  it  down  with  the  axe  which  always  hung 
at  his  girdle,  he  returned  to  camp  with  it  on  his  shoulder,  and  cut 
off  the  small  Boft  branches,  which  Nellie  spread  over  the  ground 
to  the  depth  of  nearly  half  a  foot.  This  "  pine-brush,  "  as  it  is 
called,  formed  a  soft  elastic  couch. 

The  fire  was  the  next  business.    Again  Roy  went  into  the 
bush  and  gathered  a  large  bundle  of  dry  bitmches. 

"  Now,  Nelly,  do  you  break  a  lot  of  the  small  twigs,  said  Roy, 
'<  and  I'U  strike  a  light." 


as  it  is 


LOST   IN   TUB   SNOW. 


10 


He  pnlled  his  firebag  from  his  belt  a^  he  spoke,  and  drew  from 
it  flint,  steel,  and  tinder.  No  one  ever  travels  in  the  wilds  of 
which  we  write,  without  snoh  means  of  proonring  fire.  Roy 
followed  the  example  of  his  elder  oompanions  in  carrying  a 
firebag,  althoagh  he  did  not,  like  them,  carry  tobacco  and  pipe  in  it. 

Soon  the  bright  sparks  that  flew  from  the  flint  canght  on  the 
tinder.  This  was  placed  in  a  handful  of  dry  grass,  and  whirled 
rapidly  round  until  it  was  fanned  into  a  flame.  NtiUy  had 
prepared  another  handful  of  dry  grass  with  small  twigs  above  it. 
The  light  was  applied,  the  fire  leaped  up,  more  sticks  were  piled 
on,  and  at  last  the  fire  roared  upward,  sending  bright  showers 
sparks  into  the  branches  dverhead,  lighting  the  white  walls  of 
the  camp  with  a  glow  that  caused  them  to  sparkle  as  with  millions 
of  gems,  and  filling  the  hearts  of  the  children  with  a  sensation  of 
comfort  and  gladness  while  they  stood  before  the  blaze  and 
warmed  themselves,  rubbing  their  hands  and  laughing  with  glee. 

No  one,  save  those  who  have  experienced  it,  can  form  any 
conception  of  the  cheermg  effieot  of  a  fire  in  the  hsart  of  a  dark 
wood  at  night  Roy  and  Nelly  quite  forgot  their  lost  condition 
for  a  short  time  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  comforting  heat  and  the 
bright  gladsome  blaze.  The  brother  cat  firewood  until  he  was 
rendered  almost  breathless;  the  sister  heaped  on  the  wood  until 
the  fire  roared  and  leaped  high  above  their  heads.  Strange 
though  it  may  appear  to  some,  the  snow  did  not  melt.  The 
weather  was  too  cold  for  that ;  only  a  little  of  that  which  was 
nearest  the  fire  melted — ^the  snow  walls  remained  hard  frozen 
all  round. 

Roy  soon  sat  down  to  rest,  as  dose  to  the  fire  as  he  could 
without  getting  scorched ;  then  Nelly  seated  herself  by  his  side 
and  nestled  her  head  in  his  breast.  There  they  sat,  telling 
stories  and  gazing  at  the  fire,  and  waiting  for  "  father  to  come." 

Meanwhile  Robin  and  his  comrade  ranged  the  forest  far  and 
near  in  desperate  anxiety.  Bat  it  wai  a  wide  and  wild  country. 
The  children  had  wandered  fiur  away ;  »  high  ridge  of  land  hid 
their  fire  from  view.    Moreover,  Robin,  knowing  the  children's 

0  2 


^'!fnfTSSS:sir»^mr^aKmim^ 


* 


iiiiimiiftiiilimi(liiiiMfcM.L,si;^ 


"WmF'^ff^" 


LiMJJJi«JipiJ|lllii 


10 


8ILTU  LAU. 


nanal  hannts,  had  ohanoeil  to  go  off  in  the  wrong  direction. 
When  night  sat  in  the  hunters  returned  to  Fort  Enterprise  to 
proeore  ammunition  and  provisions  in  order  to  commence  a  more 
thorough  and  prolonged  search.  Poor  Mrs.  Gore  s«iU  sat  beside 
the  cold  and  untasted  feast,  and  there  the  hunters  left  her,  while 
they  oDce  more  plunged  into  the  pathless  wilderness  to  search  for 
the  lost  ones  on  that  luckless  N^w  Year's  Dav. 

CHAPTER  V. 

OABBIED   OFF. 

'HTTiFi  Robin  Gore  and  his  eompanions 
were  anxiously  searching  the  woods  around 
Fort  Entirprise  ibr  the  lost  children,  a 
war-party  of  savages  was  making  its  way 
swiftly  tov  ards  the  fori 

A  chief  of  the  Indians,  named  Hawk, 
who  was  a  shrewd  as  well  as  a  bad 
man,  had  inspected  Wapaw's  intentions 
in  quitting  the  camp  of  his  people  tJone  and  in  such  unnecessary 
liaste.  This  man  had  great  influenre  over  his  fellows,  and  easily 
prevailed  on  them  to  set  off  on  their  murderous  expedition  against 
the  fort  of  the  "  pale-fiwseB  "  without  delay. 

Being  well  supplied  with  food,  tht^  travelled  faster  than  their 
starving  comrade,  and  almost  overtook  him.  They  finally  en- 
camped within  a  short  distance  of  the  fort  the  day  after  Wapaw's 
arrival,  and  prepared  to  assault  it  early  next  morning. 

"  If  the  wicked  shank  has  got  tliere  before  ns,"  said  Hawk 
to  his  fellows,  as  they  prepared  to  se'i  out  before  daybreak,  "  the 
pale  faces  will  be  ready  for  ns,  ard  \re  may  as  well  go  back  to 
our  wigwams  at  once ;  but  if  that  biidger's  whelp  has  been  slow 
of  foot,  we  shall  hang  the  scalps  of  lie  pale-fiuses  at  oar  belts, 
and  eat  their  food  this  day." 

The  polite  titles  above  used  by  Howk  were  meant  to  refer  to 
Wapaw. 


■"^■IF 


^  ■■  M(tsr,fWn'^v^if^y  ■ 


li 


Boy  Md  Nelly  dtoooTered  by  the  lailimi.—Pi'T*',Sl 


■     !■   i'te*ili^imi'n 


'^f '■  .  !■;>«!■■■  '■'."i>v';*i^  j'^'a.!m»ar- 


■««P^ 


.M-. 


OASBiiD  orr. 


81 


Indiana  aro  not  nttaially  loqnaoioai.  No  replj  was  made  to 
Hawk'fl  remark,  except  that  one  man  with  a  bla<^konod  face, 
and  a  Btreak  of  red  ochre  down  the  bridge  of  his  noae  said,  "Hoi" 
and  another  with  an  equally  black  (koe,  and  three  red  itreaka  on 
each  of  bia  obeeka,  aaid  "  Hum  I"  aa  the  war-party  put  on  their 
anow-ahoea  and  prepared  to  atnrt. 

They  had  not  gone  far  when  Hawk  came  to  a  audden  paaae, 
and  atood  tranafixed  and  motionleaa  like  a  dark  atatue.  Hia 
comradea  alao  atopped  abruptly  and  crouched.  No  question  was 
asked,  but  Hawk  pointed  to  a  apark  of  fire,  which  every 
Indian  in  the  band  had  obaerred  the  mutant  their  leader  had 
panaed.  Silently  they  crept  forward,  with  guna  cocked  and  arrows 
fitted  to  the  bowstrings,  until  they  all  atood  round  an  ent  ampment 
where  the  fire  was  still  smouldering,  and  in  the  onntre  of  which 
lay  a  little  boy  and  girl,  fast  asleep  and  shuddering  with  cold. 

Poor  Boy  and  Nolly  had  told  each  other  stories  until  their  eyes 
would  not  remain  open ;  then  they  fell  aaleep,  deapite  their  eflforts 
to  keep  awake,  and,  aa  the  fire  sank  low,  they  began  to  shiver 
with  the  cold.  Lucky  was  it  for  them  that  the  Indians  discovered 
them,  else  they  had  certainly  been  frozen  to  death  that  night. 

Hawk  roused  them  w'.th  little  ceremony.  Boy,  by  an 
impulse  which  would  appear  to  be  natural  to  those  who  dwell  in 
wild  countries,  whether  young  or  old,  seized  his  axe,  which  Uy 
beside  him,  as  he  leaped  up.  Hawk  grinned,  and  took  the 
axe  from  him  at  once,  and  the  poor  boy,  seeing  that  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  dark  warriors,  offered  no  resistance,  but  sought  to 
comfort  Nelly,  who  was  clinging  to  him  and  trembling  with  terror. 

Immediately  the  savages  sat  down  in  the  encampment,  and 
began  an  earnest  discussion,  which  the  children  watched  with 
great  eagerness.  They  evidently  did  not  agree,  for  much  gesticu- 
lation and  great  vehemence  characterised  theii-  debate.  Some 
pointed  towards  the  fort,  and  touched  their  tomahawks,  while 
others  pointed  to  the  woods  in  the  direction  whence  they  had 
come,  and  ahook  their  heads.  Not  a  few  drew  their  scalping 
Juidves  partially  from  the  sheaths,  and,  pointing  to  the  children. 


■^^ 


■■pi 


•IJDppHW*** 


r<lrn'iij—    i«- 


ZZ  BILTKB   LAKE. 

showed  clearly  that  they  winhed  to  cut  their  career  short  vithont 
delay,  bnt  several  of  the  more  sedate  members  of  the  party 
evidently  objected  to  this.  Finally,  Hawk  tamed  to  Roy, 
and  said  something  to  him  in  the  Indian  tongue. 

Boy  did  not  understand,  and  attempted  to  say  so  as  well  as  he 
could  1 V  signs,  and  the  use  of  the  few  words  of  the  Gree  language 
which  his  father  had  taught  him.  In  the  course  of  his  speech 
(if  we  may  use  that  term),  he  chanced  to  mention  Wapaw's  name. 

"  Ho  I  ho  I  ho  t  "  said  one  and  another  of  the  Indians, 
while  Hawk  grinned  horribly. 

A  variety  of  questions  were  now  put  to  poor  Boy,  who,  not 
understanding,  of  course  could  not  answer  them.  Hawk, 
however,  repeated  Wapa..'s  name,  and  pointed  towards  the  fort 
with  a  look  of  inquiry,  to  which  Boy  replied  by  nodding  his  head 
aad  repeating  "Wapaw"  once  or  twice,  also  pointing  to  the  fort ; 
for  he  began  to  suspect  these  must  be  Wapaw's  comrades, 
who  had  come  to  search  for  him.  He  therefore  volunteered  a 
little  additional  information  by  means  of  signs  ;  rubbed  his 
stomach,  looked  dreadfully  rueful,  rolled  himself  as  if  in  agony 
on  the  ground,  and  then,  getting  up,  pretended  to  eat  and  look 
happy  t  By  all  of  which  he  meant  to  show  how  that  Wapaw  had 
been  on  the  bordci's  of  starvation,  but  had  been  happily  saved 
therefrom. 

Indians  in  council  might  teach  a  useful  lesson  to  our  members 
of  parliament,  for  they  witnessed  this  rather  laughable  species  of 
pantomime  with  profound  gravity  and  silence.  When  Boy  con- 
cluded, they  nodded  their  heads,  and  said,  "  E )\  ho  1 "  which, 
no  doubt,  was  equivalent  to  "  Hear  I  hear  I  " 

After  a  little  more  discussion  they  rose  to  depart,  and  made 
signs  to  the  children  to  get  up  and  follow.  Boy  then  pointed  out 
the  broken  state  of  his  snow-shoe,  bnt  this  difficulty  was  overcome 
by  Hawk,  who  threw  it  away,  and  made  i:im  put  on  bis  sister's 
snow-shoes.  A  stout  young  warrior  was  ordered  to  take  Nelly 
on  his  back,  which  he  did  without  delay,  and  the  whole  party 
left  the  encampment,  headed  by  their  chief. 


ViirihitrirnViMii* 


liii 


withont 
le  party 
to    Roy, 


OABBIBD  OFF.  XO 

The  children  sabmitted  cheerfally  at  first,  under  the  impres- 
sion that  the  Indians  meant  to  convey  them  to  the  fort.  Great, 
however,  was  their  horror  when  they  were  taken  through  the 
Woods  by  a  way  which  they  knew  to  be  quite  in  the  opposite 
direction. 

When  Boy  saw  this  he  stopped  and  looked  back,  but  an  Indian 
behind  him  gave  him  a  poke  with  the  butt  of  his  gun  which  there 
was  no  resisting.  For  u  moment  the  lad  thought  of  trying  to 
break  away,  run  home,  and  tell  his  father  of  Nelly's  fate  ;  but  a 
second  thought  convinced  him  that  this  course  was  uttv;rly  im- 
practicable. As  for  Nelly,  she  was  too  far  from  her  brothor  in 
the  procession  to  hold  converse  with  him ;  and,  as  she  knew  not 
what  to  do,  say,  or  think,  she  was  reduced  to  the  miserable 
consolation  of  bedewing  with  her  tears  the  shoulders  of  the  young 
warrior  who  carried  her. 

The  storm  which  had  commenced  the  day  before  still  continued, 
so  that,  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  traces  of  the  track  of  the 
war-party  were  almost  obliterated,  and  the  chance  of  their  being 
followed  by  Robin  and  his  friends  was  resdered  less  and  less 
likely  as  time  ran  on. 

All  that  day  they  travelled  without  halt,  and  wlten  they  stopped 
at  night  to  encamp,  Roy  was  nearly  dead  from  exhAustion.  "  My 
poor  Nell,"  said  he,  drawing  his  sobbing  sister  close  to  him,  as 
they  sat  near  the  camp  fire,  after  having  eaten  the  smaU  quantity 
of  dri^d  venison  that  was  thrown  to  them  by  their  captors,  "don't 
despair ;  father  will  be  sure  to  hunt  us  down  if  it's  in  the  power 
of  man  to  do  it." 

"  I  don't  despair,"  sobbed  Nelly ;  "but  oh  I  what  will  darling 
mother  do  when  she  finds  that  we're  lost,  and  I'm  so  afraid  they'll 
kill  us." 

"No  fear  o'  that,  Nell ;  it's  not  worth  their  while.  Remember, 
too,  what  mother  often  told  us — that — that — what  is  it  she  used 
to  read  so  often  out  of  the  Bible  i     I  forget." 

"I  think  it  was,  '  Gall  upon  me  in  the  time  of  trouble,  and  I 
will  deliver  tnee.'     I've  beenthinkin'  of  that  Roy,  already." 


S*}¥SB¥«^SSlfcnSi!fe-i'- 


HMi 


W  SILTEB  LAX*. 

"That's  right,  Nell;  now,  come,  cheer  np!  Haye  yon  had 
enough  to  eat?" 

"  Y68, "  said  Nelly,  vith  a  load  yawn,  whieh  she  did  not 
attempt  to  eheek. 

Boy  echoed  it,  as  a  matter  of  course  (who  erer  did  see  any  one 
yawn  without  following  suit?),  and  then  the  two  lay  down 
together,  spread  over  themsehres  an  old  blanket  which  one  of  the 
Indians  had  given  them,  and  fell  asleep  at  once. 

Day  sncceeded  day,  night  followed  night,  and  weeks  came  uid 
went,  yet  the  Indians  continued  their  journey  through  the  auw- 
clad  wilderness.  Roy's  snow-shoes  had  been  picked  up  and 
repaired  by  one  of  the  savages,  and  Nelly  was  made  to  walk  a  good 
deal  on  her  own  snow-shoes,  but  it  is  justice  to  the  Indians  to  say 
that  they  slackened  their  pace  a  little  for  the  sake  of  the  children, 
and  when  Nelly  showed  symptoms  of  being  fatigued,  the  stout 
young  warrior  who  originally  carried  her  took  her  on  his  shoulders. 

At  length  the  encampment  of  the  tribe  was  reached,  and  Nelly 
was  handed  over  to  Hawk's  wife  to  be  her  slave.  Soon  after 
that  the  tents  were  struck,  and  the  whole  tribe  went  deeper  into 
the  northern  wilds.  Several  gales  arose  and  passed  away,  com- 
pletely covering  their  footprints,  so  that  no  tracts  were  left  behind 
them. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   OAMP,    THE   ATTACK,  AND   THE   XSOAn. 

T  were  vain  to  attempt  a  description  of 
the  varied  condition  of  Tuind  into  which 
the  brother  and  sister  fell  when  they 
found  themselves  actually  reduced  to  a 
state  of  slavery  in  an  Indian  camp,  and 
separated  from  their  parents,  as  they 
firmly  believed,  for  ever. 

Nelly  wept  her  eyes  almost  ont  of 
Then  she  fell  into  a  sort  of  apathetic 
state,  in  which,  for  several  days,    she  went  about  her  datiea 


their  sockets  at  first. 


••t^ 


THa   OAIIP,   THS  ATTACK,   AND  THB  BflOAPI. 


96 


almost  mechanically,  feeling  as  if  it  were  all  a  horrible  dream, 
out  of  which  she  would  soon  awake,  and  find  herself  at  home 
with  her  "  darling  mother  "  beside  her.  This  passed,  however, 
and  she  had  another  fit  of  heart-breaking  sorrow,  from  which 
she  found  relief  by  recalling  some  of  the  passages  in  God's 
Word,  which  her  mother  had  taught  her  to  repeat  by  heart ; 
especially  that  verse  in  which  it  is  said,  "that  Jesus  is  a 
friend  who  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother."  And  this  came 
to  the  poor  child's  mind  with  peculiar  power,  because  her 
own  brother  Boy  was  so  kind,  and  took  such  pains  to  comfort  her, 
and  to  enter  into  all  her  girlish  feelings  and  sympathies,  that  she 
could  scarcely  imagine  it  possible  for  any  one  to  stick  closer  to 
her  in  all  her  distress  than  he  did. 

As  for  Boy,  he  was  not  given  to  the  melting  mood.  His 
nature  was  bold  and  manly.  Whatever  he  felt,  he  kept  it  to 
himself^  and  he  forgot  more  than  half  his  own  sorrow  in  his 
brotherly  efforts  to  assuage  that  of  Nelly. 

Both  of  them  were  active  and  willing  to  oblige,  so  that  they 
did  not  allow  their  grief  to  interfere  with  their  work,  a  circum- 
stance which  induced  their  captors  to  treat  them  with  forbearance, 
and  even  kindness.  Nelly  sobbed  and  worked;  gradually,  the 
sobbing  decreased,  and  the  work  was  carried  on  with  vigour,  ao 
that  she  soon  became  quite  expert  at  skinning  rabbits,  boiling 
meat,  embroidering  mocassins,  smoking  deer-skins,  chopping 
firewood  into  small  pieces,  and  many  other  details  of  Indian 
household  economy ;  while  Boy  went  out  with  the  hunters,  and 
became  a  very  Nimrod,  insomuch  that  he  soon  excelled  all  the 
Uds  of  his  own  age,  and  many  of  those  who  were  older,  in  the  use 
of  the  bow,  the  snow-shoes,  the  spear,  the  axe,  and  the  gun. 
But  all  this,  and  what  they  did  and  said  in  the  Indian  camp 
during  that  winter,  and  what  was  said  and  done  to  them,  we  do 
not  mean  to  write  about,  having  matter  of  deeper  interest  to 
teU. 

Winter  passed  away,  and  spring  came.  Ah !  little  do  those 
who  dwell  in  England  know  of  the  enchantment  of  returning 


'm-iismiui&jmsmmum- 


26 


BILYEB  LAKB. 


spring  in  tbe  frozen  wilderness  of  North  America.  The  long, 
long  winter,  seems  as  thongh  it  woald  never  pass  away.  The 
intonne  frost  seals  up  all  the  sweet  odours  of  the  wooJs  for  so 
many  months,  that  the  nostrils  become  powerfully  sensitive,  and, 
as  it  were,  yearn  for  something  to  smell.  The  skin  gets  so  used 
to  frost,  that  a  balmy  breeze  is  thought  of  as  a  thing  of  the  past, 
or  well  nigh  forgotten. 

Spring  in  those  regions  comes  suddenly.  It  came  on  our 
wanderers  with  a  |ush.  One  night  the  temperature  rose  high 
above  the  freezing  point ;  next  day  all  the  sights  and  sounds  of 
Nature's  great  awakening  were  in  full  play.  The  air  fanned  their 
cheeks  like  a  summer  breeze ;  the  strange  unwonted  sound  of 
tinkling  and  dropping  water  was  heard  ;  scents,  as  of  green  things, 
were  met  and  inhaled  greedily.  As  the  thirsty  Bedouin  drinks 
from  the  well  in  the  oasis,  so  did  Boy  and  Nelly  drink  ii^  the 
delicious  influences  of  melting  nature.  And  they  thought  of  those 
words  which  say,  that  the  wilderness  shall  rejoice  and  blossom  as 
the  rose.  The  rejoicing  had  commenced,  the  blossoming  would 
soon  follow. 

But  warlike  and  wicked  men  were  even  then  preparing  to 
desecrate  the  beautiful  land.  A  war  party  of  enemies  had  come 
down  upon  the  tribe  with  whom  they  dwelt.  Scouts  had  brought 
in  the  news.  All  was  commotion  and  excitement  in  the  camp. 
Goods  and  chattels  were  being  packed  up.  The  women  and 
children  were  to  be  sent  off  with  these,  under  an  escort,  to  a 
place  of  greater  security,  while  the  Braves  armed  for  the  fight. 

In  the  middle  of  all  the  confusion,  Boy  took  Nelly  aside,  and, 
with  a  look  of  mystery,  said  : 

"Nell,  dear,  I'm  goin'  to  run  away.  Stay,  now,  don't  stare 
so  like  an  owl  but  hold  your  sweet  tongue,  until  IJiave  explained 
what  I  mean  to  do.  Yon  and  I  have  picked  up  a  good  deal  of 
useful  knowledge  of  one  sort  or  another  since  we  came  here,  and 
I'm  inclined  to  think  we  are  quite  fit  to  take  to  the  woods  an^ 
work  our  way  back  to  Fort  Enterprise." 

"  But  isn't  it  an  awful  long  way  ?"  said  Nelly. 


long, 
The 
for  so 
and, 
used 
past. 


THK  CAVP,  THX  ATTACK,  AND  THE  BSOAFB.        27 

"  It  is,  but  we  have  an  awful  long  time  to  travel ;  haven't  we 
all  our  lives  before  us  ?  If  onr  lives  are  long,  we'll  manage  it ; 
if  thej  are  short,  whj  we  won't  want  to  manage  it,  so  we  need 
not  bother  onr  heads  abont  that  ?" 

"  Bat  the  way  home,"  suggested  Nelly,  •'  do  yon  know  it  ?" 
"  Of  course  I  know  it ;  that  is  to  say,  I  know,  from  that  ugly 
thief  Hawk,  that  it  lies  somewhere  or  other  to  the  south-west 
o'  this  place,  some  hundreds  of  miles  off ;  how  many  hnndreds 
does  not  much  matter,  for  we  have  got  the  whole  of  the  spring, 
summer,  and  fall  before  ns." 
'<  Bat  what  if  we  don't  get  home  in  the  fall  ?  " 
"  Then  we  shall  spend  the  winter  in  the  woods,  that's  all." 
Nelly  laughed,  in  spite  of  her  anxieties,  at  the  confident  tone  in 
which  her  brother  spoke,  and,  being  quite  unable  to  argue  the 
matter  farther,  she  said  that  she  was  ready  to  do  whatever  Roy 
pleased,  having  perfect  confidence  in  his  wisdom. 

"  That's  right,  Nell ;  now,  yon  get  ready  to  start  at  a  moment's 
notice.  When  the  Injuns  attack  the  camp,  we'll  give  'em  the 
slip.  Put  all  you  want  to  take  with  yon  on  a  tobogan,*  and  meet 
me  at  the  crooked  tree  when  the  camp  moves." 

That  night  the  camp  was  struck,  and  the  women  and  childreu 
departed,  under  a  strong  escort.  Almost  at  the  same  time  the 
enemy  came  down  on  their  prey,  but  they  met  men  prepared  for 
them.  In  the  dark,  Nelly  crept  to  the  crooked  tree,  dragging 
the  tobogan  after  her.  She  was  met  by  Boy,  who  took  the 
sledge-line  and  her  hand  and  led  her  into  the  dark  forest,  while 
the  savages  were  fighting  and  yelling  like  fiends  in  the  camp. 
There  let  us  leave  them  to  fight  it  out.  Enough  for  ns  to  know 
that  their  warfare  prevented  any  pursuit  of  the  young  fugitives. 

Weeks  passed,  and  Boy  and  Nelly  wandered  on ;  all  fear  of 
pursuit  soon  left  them.  Ducks,  geese,  and  other  waterfowl,  came 
in  myriads  with  the  spring.    Boy  had  brought  with  him  his  gun, 

*  A  (mail  Indian  sledge,  dragged  on  the  snow,  either  b/  hand  or  by 
dogs,  with  loops  at  the  sides  for  lacing  the  loading  of  the  sledge 
iqpocit. 


•V^ 


z:3:!:Kii^ 


28 


BILTKB  LAKX. 


(the  one  he  was  wont  to  nse  in  hunting),  and  bow  and  qaiver. 
They  fed  on  the  fat  of  the  land.  Sammer  advanced,  and  game 
became  less  plentifnl ;  still,  there  was  more  than  sufficient  to 
supply  them  with  abundance  of  food.  Autumn  approached ;  the 
wild  fowl  that  had  passed  northward,  in  spring  began  to  return 
southward,  and  again  the  wants  of  the  young  wanderers  were 
enperabundantly  supplied. 

The  pole-star  was  Boy's  guide.  At  night  he  laid  his  course 
by  it ;  and  by  the  sun  during  the  day,  making  constant  allowance, 
of  course,  for  the  sun's  rate  of  trarelling  through  the  sky,  and 
taking  advantage  of  all  prominent  landmarks  on  the  way. 

Time  sped  on ;  many  weary  miles  were  travelled,  but  no  sign 
of  Fort  Enterprise  was  to  be  seen.  Day  after  day,  week  after 
week,  month  after  month,  they  wandered,  and  still  found  them- 
selves in  the  heart  of  an  unknown  wilderness.  Occasionally  they 
observed  signs  of  Indians,  and  carefully  kept  out  of  sight  at  sach 
times,  as  you  may  easily  believe. 

At  last  there  came  a  day  when  hard  frost  set  in.  It  was  the 
first  touch  of  another  winter.  Boy  and  Nelly  did  not  betray  their 
feelings  to  each  other,  but  their  hearts  sank  as  they  thought  of 
what  lay  before  them.  The  frost  was  short  lived,  however ;  towards 
noon  the  air  became  delightfolly  warm,  and  their  spirits  revived. 

On  reaching  the  summit  of  an  eminence,  up  which  they  had 
toiled  for  several  hours,  they  beheld  a  small  lake,  in  which  the 
silvery  clouds  were  clearly  reflected.  The  day  was  cahn;  the 
sun  unusually  brilliant ;  the  autumnal  foliage  most  gorgeous  in 
colour.    It  was  like  a  scene  in  fiuiy-land  I " 

"  Splendid  1 "  exclaimed  Boy,  sitting  down  beside  his  sister 
on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree. 

"  Oh  I  how  beautiful,"  cried  NeUy. 

"  It's  so  like  silver,"  said  Boy. 

"  Silver  Lake,"  murmured  Nelly. 

Boy  seemed  to  think  the  name  appropriate,  for  he  echoed  the 
words,  "  yes,  Silver  Lake."  And  there  brother  and  sister  sat,  for 
a  long  time,  on  the  fallen  tree,  in  silent  admiration  of  the  scene. 


29 


CHAPTER  VII.  V  . 

THB   ENOAMFMEMT  ON   flXLYBB    JiKK. 

HEN  Roy  and  Nelly  Bat  down  to  gaze  in 
admiration  on  Silver  Lake,  they  little 
thought  how  long  a  period  they  should 
have  to  spend  on  its  shores. 

The  lake  was  a  small  sheet  of  water  not 
more  than  half  a  mile  broad,  embosomed 
among  low  hilla,  which  though  not  grand, 
were  picturesque  in  outline,  and  wooded  to 
their  tops.  It  occupied  the  summit  of  an  elevated  region  or  height- 
of-hmd — a  water-shed  in  &ct — and  Roy  afterwards  discovered 
that  water  flowed  from  both  the  north-east  and  south-west  sides  of 
the  table-land,  in  the  midst  of  which  it  ky.  These  fountain-heads 
separated  by  little  more  than  half  a  mile  from  each  other,  were  the 
sources  of  streams,  which,  flowing  in  opposite  directions  through 
hundreds  of  miles  of  wild,  beautiful,  and  uncultivated  wilderness, 
found  their  way,  on  the  one  hand,  into  Hudson's  Bay,  on  the  other 
hand  into  the  Atlantic  through  the  great  rivers  and  lakes  of  Canada. 
The  waters  of  the  lake  were  strikingly  clear  and  pellucid. 
When  the  young  wanderer  first  came  upon  the  scene  not  a  zephyr 
stirred  the  leaves  of  the  forest ;  the  blue  sky  was  studded  with 
towering  masses  of  white  clouds  which  glowed  in  sunshine,  and 
these  reflected  in  the  glassy  water — as  if  far,  far  down  in  its 
unfathomable  depths — ^produced  that  silvery  efiect  which  prompted 
Nelly  to  utter  the  name  which  we  have  adopted. 

Small  though  the  Silver  Lake  was  it  boasted  two  islets,  which 
like  twin  babes  Uy  side  by  side  on  their  mother's  fair  breast, 
their  reflected  images  stretching  down  into  that  breast  as  if 
strivii.^  to  reach  and  grasp  its  heart  I 

"  Couldn't  we  stay  here  a  short  time  ?"  asked  Nelly,  breaking 
the  silence  in  a  tone  that  indicated  anxiety,  hope,  and  enthusiasm. 
«  only  for  a  very  little  time,"  she  added,  ooaxingly. 


i  ; 


tmuiiiy'r^~-si^'',^*peiK 


PO 


SOiTBB  LAKB. 


Roy  looked  grave  and  sagacious.  Boys  as  well  as  men  like  to 
be  leunt  upon  and  trusted  by  the  fair  sex— «t  least  in  things 
masculine — and  Nelly  had  such  boundless  faith  in  her  brother's 
capacity  to  protect  her  and  guide  her  through  the  forest,  that  she 
unwittingly  inspired  him  with  an  exuberant  amount  of  courage 
and  self-reliunce.  The  lad  was  bold  and  fearless  enough  by 
nature.  His  sister's  confidence  in  him  had  the  effect  of  inducing 
him  to  think  himself  fit  for  anything  !  He  afiected,  therefore,  at 
times,  a  look  of  grave  sagacity,  befitting,  as  he  thought,  so 
important  and  responsible  a  character. 

"  I've  just  been  thinking,"  said  he, 

"  Oh  I"  don't  think,  but  say  yes  I "  interrupted  Nelly. 

"Well,  I'm  going  to  say  yes,  but  I  meant  to  give  yoo  my 
reasons  for  Myin'  so.  In  the  first  place,  my  powder  and  shot  is 
gettin*  low.  You  see  I  did  not  bring  away  very  much  from  the 
Ii\jun  camp,  and  we've  been  using  it  for  so  many  months  now 
that  it  won't  last  much  longer,  so  I  think  it  would  not  be  a  bad 
plan  to  stop  here  awhile  and  fish  and  shoot  and  feed  up — for  yon 
need  rest,  Nelly — and  then  start  fresh  with  a  well-louded  sledge. 
I'll  save  some  powder  by  using  tho  bow  we  mad?  the  other  day : " — 

"  But  you  forget  it's  broken.' 

"  So  it  is — never  mind,  we  can  make  another — there's  a  tree 
that  will  r  ^ke  a  first-rater  down  in  the  hollow,  d'ye  see  it,  Nell  ?" 

"  Where — oh  yes— just  by  the  grassy  place  where  the  rock 
juts  out  into  the  water  with  the  sun  shining  on  it  ?  what  a  nice 
place  to  build  a  hut ! " 

"  Just  so,"  said  Roy,  smiling  at  the  girl's  enthusiasm,  "  that's 
the  spot,  and  that's  the  very  Uiought  that  jumped  bang  into  my 
brain  as  you  spoke— by  the  way,  does  a  thought  jump  into  a 
man's  brain  or  out  of  it,  I  wonder  ?  " 

"  Out  of  it,  of  course,"  cried  Nelly,  with  a  laugh. 

"  I'm  not  so  sure  of  that,  Nell,  I  send  it  rather  slowly  out 
through  my  mouth,  but  I  think  it  jumps  into  my  brain.  I  wonder 
how  it  gets  in ;  whether  by  the  eyes,  or  ears,  or  month — ^perhaps 
it  goes  up  the  nose." 


T 


THB   KNOAMPHINT. 


81 


BO 


"  What  stuff  yoa  do  talk  I "  cried  Nelly. 

"  D'ye  think  bo,  '  said  Roy  with  n  grin,  "  well,  that  bein'  the 
case,  let's  go  and  fix  oar  camp,  for  the  sun  is  not  given  to  sitting 
ap  all  night  in  these  parts,  so  we  mast  work  while  it  shines." 

With  harried  steps  and  eager  looks  (for  Roy,  despite  his  affected 
coolness,  was  as  enthasiastio  aboat  the  new  plan  as  his  sister) 
they  descended  to  the  margin  of  Silver  Lake,  and  began  to  make 
their  encampment  on  the  sunny  spot  before  referred  to. 

It  tamed  oat  to  be  most  saitable  for  their  parpose,  having  a 
gentle  slope  towards  the  margin  of  the  lake,  which  was  fringed 
with  A  beach  of  pare  white  pebbles,  and  being  well  sheltered  in  the 
rear  by  nmbrageoas  trees.  The  point  of  rocks  close  at  hand 
formed  a  natural  jetty,  which,  Roy  observed,  would  be  useful  as  a 
landing-place  when  he  got  his  raft  under  weigh ;  the  turf  was  soft, 
a  matter  of  somo  importance  as  it  was  to  form  their  couch  at 
night,  and  a  small  stream  trickled  down  from  one  of  the  numerous 
springs  which  welled  ap  at  the  foot  of  the  nearest  hill. 

Solitary  and  remote  from  the  usual  haunts  of  men  as  this  lake 
was,  there  was  no  feeling  of  solitude  about  it  at  the  time  we  write 
of.  The  entire  region  was  alive  with  wild  fowl  of  many  kinds. 
Wild  geese  trumpeted  their  advent  as  they  came  from  the  far 
north,  en  route  for  the  far  south,  and  settled  on  the  bosom  of 
Silver  Lake  to  take  a  night's  lodging  there.  Ducks,  firom  the  same 
region,  and  hound  for  the  same  goal — though  with  less  stately 
and  regular  flight — flew  hither  and  thither  vvith  whistling  wings, 
ever  and  anon  going  swash  into  the  water  as  a  tempting  patch  of 
reeds  invited  them  to  feed  or  a  whim  of  fancy  induced  them  to 
rest.  Wild  swans  occasionally  sailed  in  all  tibeir  majesty  on  its 
waters,  while  plover  of  every  length  of  limb  and  bill,  and  every 
species  of  plaintive  cry,  waded  round  its  margin,  or  swept  in 
clouds  over  the  neighbouring  .swamps.  Sometimes  deer  would 
trot  out  of  the  woods  and  slake  their  thirst  on  its  shore,  and  the 
frequent  rings  that  broke  itf  smooth  surface  told  of  life  in  the 
watery  depths  below. 

The  whole  air  was  filled  with  gashing  sounds  of  wild  melody, 


mmm 


82 


8ILVSB  UkXM. 


as  though  bird  and  beast  were  aniting  in  a  liymn  of  praise  to  the 
beneficent  Creator  who  had  provided  the  meiins  of,  and  given  the 
capacity  for,  so  much  enjoyment. 

Having  decided  on  a  suitable  spot  for  the;r  temporary  resting- 
phice,  Roy's  first  care  was  to  construct  a  hut.  This  was  neither 
a  work  of  time  nor  difficulty.  In  a  couple  of  hours  it  was  finished. 
He  commenced  the  work  by  felling  about  a  cozen  young  fir  trees 
not  much  thicker  than  a  man's  wrist,  from  which  he  chopped  the 
branches,  thus  leaving  them  bare  poles  about  nine  feet  long. 
While  he  was  thus  employed,  his  sister  clearod  the  spot  on  which 
their  dwelling  was  to  stand,  and,  having  an  eye  to  the  picturesque, 
so  arranged  that  the  opening  of  the  hut  should  command  an 
uninterrupted  view  of  the  lake.  On  going  into  the  "bu^h"  to 
the  phuse  where  Roy  was  at  work  she  found  him  cutting  down  his 
sixth  tree,  and  the  ground  was  strewn  with  the  flat  branches  of 
those  already  cut. 

"  Come  along,  Nelly — how  hot  I  am — cany  these  branches 
into  camp,  lass,  an'  go  ahead,  for  I've  got  supper  to  kill  yet." 

Nelly  made  no  direct  reply,  but  mutterod  to  herself  something 
that  sounded  very  like,  "  Oh,  what  Am  I "  as  she  filled  her  tiny 
arms  with  pine  branches,  and,  hugging  them  to  her  heaving  breast, 
staggered  to  the  camp.  When  she  had  carried  all  the  branches 
Boy  had  out  all  the  poles,  so  he  proceeded  to  set  them  up.  Tying 
three  poles  together  at  the  top,  and  using  the  pliant  roots  of  a  tree 
for  the  purpose,  he  set  them  up  in  the  fovm  of  a  tripod.  Against 
these  three  all  the  other  poles  were  piM,  crossbg  each  other  at 
the  top,  and  spreading  out  at  the  base  8  o  as  to  enclose  a  circle  of 
about  six  feet  in  diameter.  Being  numerous,  the  poles  were 
pretty  close  together,  thus  affording  good  support  to  the  branches 
which  were  afterwards  piled  on  them.  Pine  brancheb  are  fiat, 
spreading,  and  thick,  so  that  when  laid  above  each  other  to  a  depth 
of  several  inches  they  form  a  very  good  shelter  firom  dew  and  light 
rain.  The  hut  was  entirely  covered  witli  such  branches,  which  were 
kept  in  their  laeces  by  other  poles  learing  upon  and  pressing  them 
down.    The  floor  of  the  hat  was  also  covered  with  pine  "  brush." 


to  the 

ten  the 

eating- 
neither 
niBhed. 
r  trees 
)ed  the 
long. 
1  which 
iresqae, 
land  an 
ish"  to 
own  his 
aches  of 

iinmohes 
yet." 
mething 
her  tiny 
g  breast, 
t>rancheB 
.  Tying 
of  a  tree 
Against 
other  at 
circle  of 
les  were 
branches 
are  flat, 
I  a  depth 
and  light 
lieh  were 
ing  them 
'  brush." 


THS  BNOAMPHXNT.  M 

"  Now  for  rapper,  Nelly,"  said  Roy,  seizing  his  bow,  when  the 
hot  was  completed,  and  splicing  its  broken  part  with  a  strip  of 
deerskin  cut  from  the  lines  of  the  sledge. 

"  Get  a  goose,  Roy,  and  pick  out  a  nice  fat  ono,"  cried  Nelly, 
laughing,  "  I'll  have  the  fire  ready  when  you  come  back." 

"  I'll  try,"  said  Roy,  and  he  did  try,  but  tried  in  vain.  Although 
a  good  shot,  he  was  not  sufficiently  expert  with  the  bow  to  shoot 
wild  fowl  on  the  wing,  so  he  returned  t^  the  hut  empty  handed. 

"  We  must  make  a  new  bow,  Nell,"  said  he,  sitting  down  by 
the  fire,  "  I  can  do  nothin'  wi'  this,  and  it  won't  do  to  use  the 
gun  for  anythin'  but  deer.  Meanwhile  let's  have  the  remains  of 
our  dinner  for  supper.  Come,  cheer  up,  old  'ooman ;  we  shall 
feast  on  the  fat  of  the  land  to-morrow  ! " 

The  stars  were  shining  in  the  sky,  and  winking  at  their 
reflections  down  in  the  depths  of  Silver  Lake,  and  the  lake  itself 
lay,  as  black  as  ink,  under  the  shadow  of  the  hills,  when  the 
brother  and  sister  spread  their  blanket  above  them  that  night  and 
sank,  almost  immediately,  into  profound  slumber. 


CHAPTER  Vlil. 

RtraTINO,   AND   OTHEB  MATTEBS,   ON    BII.VKB    LAKI. 

,  UNRISE  is  a  gladsome  event  almost  at  all 
times ;  we  say  "  almost,"  because  there 
are  times  when  sunrise  is  not  particularly 
gladsome.  In  the  arctic  regions  of  Norway, 
for  instance,  we  have  seen  it  rise  only 
twenty  minutes  after  it  set,  and  the  rising 
and  setting  were  so  much  mingled,  thttk 
no  very  strong  feelings  of  any  kind  were 
awakened.  Moreover,  we  were  somewhat  depressed  at  the  time, 
in  consequence  of  having  failed  to  reach  those  latitudes  where 
the  sun  does  not  set  at  all  for  several  weeks  in  summer,  but  shines 
sight  and  day.    To  the  sick,  sunrise  brings  little  eomfbrt ;  too 


'iiiiiiU'HWliiiiii 


■  :i!mmtitmif-tii3msmi!aiKs,»ci:.r!,:- 


84 


BILTER    LAU. 


often  it  ia  watched  for  with  wearinesn,  and  beheld,  at  lait,  with  a 
feeling  of  doproBsion  at  the  thought  that  another  day  of  pain  has 
begun.  But  to  the  healthy,  and  especially  to  the  young,  sunrise 
is  undoubtedly,  on  roost  occasions,  a  gladsome  event. 

At  least  Nolly  Gore  thought  so  when  she  awoke  and  beheld, 
from  the  floor  of  the  hut  where  she  lay,  a  flood  of  yellow  glory 
gushing  through  a  valley  turning  Silver  Lake  into  gold,  tipping 
the  trees  with  fire,  and  blazing  full  in  Roy's  face,  which  was  at  that 
moment  turned  up  to  the  sky  with  the  mouth  open,  and  the  nose 
snoring. 

"  Oh,  how  beautiful ! "  screamed  Nelly,  in  the  exuberance  of 
her  delight. 

"  Hallo  I  murder !  come  on,  ye  black  varmints,"  shouted  Roy, 
as  he  sprang  up  and  seized  the  axe  which  lay  at  hif  '.  "  Oh, 
its  only  you,  what  a  yell  you  do  give,  Nelly !  why  oi  'd  think 

you  were  a  bom  Injun  ;  what  is't  all  about,  lass  ?  xu-u-ow !  how 
sleepy  I  am — too  late  to  have  another  nap  I  suppose,  eh  ?" 

"  Oh  yes,  lazy  thing  !  got  up  and  come  out  quick  ! "  cried  the 
other,  as  she  sprang  up  and  ran  out  of  the  hut  to  enjoy  the  full 
blaze  of  the  sunshine,  aud  the  fresh  morning  air. 

That  morning  Nelly  could  do  little  but  ramble  about  in  a  wild 
sort  of  fashion,  trying  to  imagine  that  she  was  queen  of  the  world 
around  her !  She  sobered  down,  however,  towards  noon,  and  went 
diligently  about  the  work  which  Roy  had  given  her  to  do.  She 
had  the  internal  arrangements  of  the  hut  to  complete  and  improve, 
some  pairs  of  mocassins  to  mend,  aad  several  arrows  to  feather, 
besides  other  matters. 

Meanwhile  Roy  went  out  to  hunt. 

Determined  not  to  nse  his  fast-diminishing  ammunition,  except 
on  large  game,  and  anxious  to  become  more  expert  with  the  bow, 
he  set  to  work  the  first  thing  that  day,  and  made  a  new  bow. 
Armed  with  this  and  a  dozen  arrows,  he  sallied  forth. 

Some  of  his  arrows  were  pointed  with  ivory,  some  with  iron, 
and  some  had  no  points  at  all,  but  blunt  heavy  heads  instead. 
These  latter  were,  and  still  are,  used  by  Indians  in  shooting 


BUNtlNO. 


86 


I,  with  • 

Jain  haa 

■nnriae 

beheld, 
)w  glory 

tipping 
18  at  that 
khe  nose 

)ranoe  of 

ted  Boy, 

"Oh, 

1d  think 

-ow !  how 

I?" 

cried  the 
^  the  full 

in  a  wild 
the  world 
and  went 
do.  She 
I  improve, 
jo  feather, 


on,  except 

1  the  bow, 

new  bow. 

with  iron, 
Is  instead. 
1  shooting 


game  that  is  tame  and  easily  killed.  Grease  of  varions  kinds, 
for  instance,  if  hit  with  full  force  from  a  short  range  by  a 
blunt-headed  arrow,  will  be  effectually  stunned,  especially  if  hit 
on  the  head. 

At  first  Roy  walked  along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  but  was  not 
very  successful,  because  the  ducks  and  geese  were  bid  among 
reeds,  and  rose  suddenly  with  a  distracting  whirr,  usually  flying 
off  over  the  water.  To  have  let  fly  at  these  would  have  cost  him 
an  arrow  every  shot,  so,  after  losing  one,  he  wisely  restrained 
himself. 

After  a  time,  he  tnm^  into  the  woods,  resolving  to  try  his 
fortune  where  his  arrows  were  not  so  likely  to  bo  lost.  He  had 
not  gone  far,  when  a  tree-grouse  tprang  into  the  air  and  settled 
on  a  neighbouring  pine. 

Boy  became  excited,  for  be  was  anxious  not  to  return  to  the  hut 
empty  haiided  a  second  time.  He  Cited  a  sharp-headed  arrow  to 
the  striug,  and  advanced  towards  the  bird  cautiously.  His  anxiety 
to  make  little  noise  was  so  great,  that  he  tripped  over  a  root  and 
fell  with  a  hideous  crash  into  the  middle  of  a  dead  bush,  the 
branches  of  which  snapped  like  a  discharge  of  little  crackers. 
Poor  Boy  got  up  disgusted,  but  on  looking  up  found  that  the 
grouse  was  still  sitting  there,  filled  apparently  with  moire  curiosity 
than  alarm.  Seeing  this  he  advanced  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
bird,  and,  substituting  a  blunt  arrow  for  the  sharp  one,  discharged 
it  with  vigour.  It  hit  the  grouse  on  the  left  eye,  and  brought  it 
to  the  ground  like  a  stone. 

"  Good,  that's  '  cumber  one,'  muttered  the  lad  as  he  fastened 
the  bird  to  his  belt ;  "  hope  *  number  I  wo'  is  not  far  off." 

"  Number  two  "  was  nearer  than  he  magined,  for  four  other  birds 
of  the  same  kind  rose  a  few  yards  ahetd  of  him,  with  all  the  noise 
and  flurry  that  is  characteristic  of  the  species. 

They  settled  on  a  tree  not  fax  off  and  looked  about  them. 

"  Sit  there,  my  fine  fellows,  till  I  come  up,"  muttered  Boy. 
(The  lad  hod  a  habit  of  speaking  to  himself  while  out  hunt- 
ing 1) 

D  2 


iimmiiigmiimsmr^ 


-iiaiirtiiitiMiiiiii 


'mj: 


86 


SILTBB  LAK}E. 


They  obeyed  the  order,  and  sat  until  he  was  close  to  them. 
Again  was  the  blont  arrow  fitted  to  the  string ;  once  more  it  sped 
true  to  its  mark,  and  "  number  two"  fell  fluttering  to  the  ground. 

Now,  the  grouse  of  North  America  is  sometimes  a  very  stupid 
creature.  It  literally  sits  still  to  be  shot,  if  the  hnliter  is  only 
careful  to  fire  first  at  the  lowest  bird  of  the  group.  If  he  were  to 
fire  at  the  topmost  one,  its  fluttering  down  amongst  the  others 
would  start  them  ofif. 

Boy  was  aware  of  this  fact,  and  had  aimed  at  the  bird  that  sat 
lowest  on  the  tree.  Another  arrow  was  discharged,  and  "  number 
three'  lay  sprawling  on  the  ground.*  The  blunt  arrows  being 
exhausted,  he  now  tried  a  sharp  one,  but  missed.  The  birds 
stretched  their  neoks,  turned  their  heads  on  one  side,  and  looked 
at  the  lad,  as  though  tosay,  "  it  won't  do, — try  again  !" 

Another  shaft  was  more  successful.  It  pierced  the  heart  of 
"  number  four,"  and  brought  it  down  like  a  lump  of  lead.  "  Number 
five"  sPdmed  a  little  perplexed  by  this  time,  and  made  a  motion  as 
though  it  were  about  to  fly  off,  but  an  arrow  caught  it  in  the 
throat,  and  cut  short  its  intentions  and  its  career.  Thus  did  Boy 
bag,  or  rather  belt,  five  birds  consecutively.* 

Our  hero  was  not  one  of  those  civilized  sportsmen  who 
slaughter  as  much  game  as  they  can.  He  merely  wanted  to 
provide  food  for  a  day  or  two.  He  therefore  turned  his  steps 
homewarJ — if  we  maybe  allowed  the  expression — being  anxious  to 
assi.  V  his  sister  in  making  the  hut  comfortable. 

As  he  walked  along  his  a^ve  mind  ran  riot  in  many  eccentric 
channels.  Those  who  take  any  interest  in  the  study  of  mind,  know 
that  it  is  not  only  the  mind  of  a  romantic  boy  that  does  this,  but 
that  the  mind  of  man  generally  is,  when  left  to  itself,  the  veriest 
acrobat,  the  most  unaccountable  harlequin,  that  overleaped  across 
the  stage  of  fancy. 

Boy's  mind  was  now  in  the  clouds,  now  on  the  earth.  Anon  it 
was  away  in  the  £gu:-off  wilderness,  or  scampering  through  the 

*  The  anthor  hag  himself,  in  the  baokwoodi,  taken  fonr  biida  in  sno- 
oeaaion  off  a  tree  in  this  fiMhion  with  a  fowling-pieoe. 


tei!l!Sp<B|*iXltMMiM>aWNMWilgi!Sll 


•i   — itoiMwifai 


"ilMlpii 


MPPiP 


mmmm- 


mmm 


HtlNTUia. 


87 


sit  sped 
gronnd. 

7  stupid 
is  only 
were  to 

e  others 

that  sat 
nomher 

'ws  being 
le  birds 

id  looked 


settlements:  and  presently  it  was  deep  down  in  Silver  Lake  playing 
with  the  fish.  Roy  himself  mnttered  a  word  or  so,  now  and  then,  as 
he  walked  along,  which  gave  indication  of  the  whereabouts  of  his 
mind  at  the  time. 

"  Capital  fim,"  said  he,  "  only  it  won't  do  to  stay  too  long. 
Poor  mother,  how  she'll  be  wearin'  for  as !  Hallo  !  dncks,  you're 
noisy  coons,  wonder  why  you  get  up  with  such  a  bang.  Bang ! 
that  reminds  me  of  the  gun.  K?  more  banging  of  you,  old  chap, 
if  my  hand  keeps  in  so  well  with  the  bow.  £h !  duck,  what's 
wrong  ?  " 

This  latter  question  was  addressed  to  a  small  duck  which 
seemed  in  an  anxious  state  of  mind,  to  judge  from  its  motions. 
Presently  a  head,  as  if  of  a  fish,  broke  the  surface  of  the  lake, 
and  the  duck  disappeared  ! 

"  Oh  the  villain,"  exclaimed  Boy,  *'  a  fish  has  bolted  him !" 

After  this  the  lad  walked  on  in  silence,  looking  at  the  gronnd, 
and  evidently  pondering  deeply. 

"  Nelly,"  said  he,  entering  the  hut  and  throwing  the  grouse  at 
her  feet,  *'  here  is  dinner,  supper,  and  breakfast  for  you,  and 
please  get  the  first  ready  as  fast  as  you  can,  for  I'm  famishing." 

"  Oh  how  nice,  how  did  yon  get  them  ?" 

"  I'll  tell  you  presently,  but  my  head's  full  of  a  notion  about 
catching  ducks  just  now." 

"  Catching  ducks,  Roy,  what  is  the  notion  ?" 

"  Never  mind,  Nelly,  I  han't  scrr  tohed  it  out  o'  my  brain  yet,  but 
111  tell  'ee  after  dinner,  and  we'll  try  the  plan  to-morrow  momin.'  " 


«**■<»*- 


mi i>9itatiami..i.:^amr^ftri»>K 


iMMimiim 


88 


CHAPTER   IX. 

nSBINO   EXTBAOBDIMABT. 

ARLY  on  the  following  morning,  Roy  and 
Nelly  rose  to  try  the  new  style  of  dnck- 
hunting  which  the  former  had  devised. 

"  I  wonder  if  it  will  do,"  said  the  little 
girl,  as  she  tripped  along  by  her  hrother'^ 
side  in  the  direction  of  a  marshy  bay, 
which  had  been  selected  as  the  scene  of 
their  experiments.  "  How  clever  of  you 
to  invent  such  a  funny  plan  ! " 

"Well,  I  didn't  exactly  invent  it,  lass.  The  fact  is  tuat  I 
remembered  father  havin'  told  mo  he  had  read  it  in  a  book  before 
he  left  the  settlements.  I  wish  we  had  some  books.  Pity  that 
we've  got  no  books. 

"  So  it  is,"  assented  Nell,  with  a  touch  of  sadness  in  her  tone. 
Both  Roy  and  his  sisters  were  good  readers,  having  been  taught 
by  their  mother  out  of  the  Bible  —the  only  book  that  Robin  Gore 
had  brought  with  him  from  the  settlements.  Robin  could  read, 
but  he  did  not  care  much  for  reading — neither  did  Walter  nor 
Larry  O'Dowd.  Indeed  the  latter  could  not  read  at  all.  Mrs.  Gore 
had  wanted  to  take  a  few  books  with  her  into  the  wilderness,  but 
her  husband  said  he  thought  the  Bible  was  enough  for  her ;  so 
the  library  at  Fort  Enterprise  was  select  and  small !  One  good 
resulted  from  this — the  Bible  was  read,  by  all  who  could  read, 
a  great  deal  more  than  would  have  been  the  case  had  there  been 
other  books  at  hand.  But  the  young  people  longed  earnestly  for 
books  containing  fairy  tales,  such  as  was  told  to  them  by  their 
mother;  and  wild  adventures,  such  as  Walter  could  relate  or 
invent  by  the  hour. 

It  might  have  been  observed  that  Roy  carried  on  his  shoulder 
a  remarkable  object — something  like  a  clumsy  basket  made  of 
reeds,  and  about  twice  the  size  of  a  man's  head.     This  had  been 


'.r-rn:vtnmm^r'v 


nSHIKO   BXTBAOHDINABT. 


89 


made  by  Nelly  the  night  before.  The  use  to  which  it  was  to  be 
put  was  soon  shown  by  Boy.  Baving  reached  the  spot  where  the 
experiment  wac  to  be  tried,  and  having  observed  that  there  were 
many  docks,  large  and  small,  floating  about  among  the  reeds,  he 
got  Nelly  to  hold  the  basket,  if  we  may  so  call  it,  as  high  as  she 
could  raise  it.  There  was  a  hole  in  the  bottom  of  it.  Through 
this  Roy  thrust  his  head,  bo  that  the  machine  rested  on  his 
shoulders,  his  head  being  inside  and  completely  concealed. 

"  Now,  Nelly,  what  think  you  of  my  helmet  ?" 

*'  Oh  I  it  is  splendid  ! "  cried  the  girl,  laughing  in  a  subdued 
voice.  "  It's  so  awfully  absurd  looking,  but  can  you  see?  for  I 
don't  see  a  bit  of  your  face." 

«  See  ?  ay,  as  well  as  need  be.  There's  lots  of  small  holes 
which  I  can  peep  through  in  all  directions.  But  come,  I'll  try  it. 
Keep  close,  Nell,  and  don't  laugh  too  loud,  for  ducks  aint  used  to 
laughing,  d'ye  see,  and  may  be  frightened  by  it." 

So  saying  Roy  crept  on  his  hands  and  knees  to  the  edge  of  the 
lake,  being  concealed  by  bushes  until  he  got  into  the  water.  Here 
a  few  steps  took  him  into  the  reeds  which  clustered  so  thickly  at 
that  spot,  and  grew  so  tall  that  he  was  soon  hidden  from  sight 
altogether. 

He  had  not  taken  o£f  much  of  his  dross,  which,  we  may  remark 
in  passing,  was  of  the  simplest  at  all  times— consisting  of  a  pair 
of  trousers,  a  striped  cotton  shirt,  and  a  grey  cloth  capote  with  a 
hood  to  it.  His  capote  and  cap  were  left  in  charge  of  his  sister. 
As  for  the  shirt  and  trousers,  they  could  be  easily  dried  again. 

Nelly  watched  the  place  where  her  brother  had  disappeared  with 
breathl<)8s  interest.  As  he  did  not  reappear  as  quickly  as  she  had 
expected,  she  became  greatly  alarmed.  In  a  few  minutes  more 
she  would  certainly  have  rushed  into  the  lake  to  the  rescue,  regard- 
less of  consequences  and  of  ducks,  had  not  Boy's  strange  head- 
dress come  suddenly  into  view  at  the  outward  verge  of  the  reeds. 
The  lad  had  waded  in  up  to  his  neck,  and  was  now  slowly — almost 
imperceptibly — approaching  a  group  of  ducks  that  were  disporting 
themselves  gaily  in  the  water. 


MMww«MilrtMMM(|0!i 


H«lk»tysf«!S«i! 


Hi 


40         \'  8ILVBB  LAKB.  <     ;      . 

"  They'll  never  let  him  near  them,"  thought  Nelly. 

She  was  wrong,  for  at  that  moment,  an  extremely  fat  and  pert 
young  duck  ohsenred  the  bundle  of  reeds  and  swam  straight  up  to 
it,  animated  no  doubt  by  that  reckless  curiosity  which  is  peculiar 
to  young  creatures.  Had  its  mother  known  what  was  insida  of 
the  bundle,  she  would  no  doubt  have  remonstrated  with  her  head- 
strong child,  but,  old  and  sagacious  though  that  mother  was,  she 
was  completely  deceived.  She  was  not  even  astonished  when  her 
duckling  suddenly  disappeared  beneath  the  water,  thinking,  no 
doubt,  that  it  had  dived.  Soon  the  bundle  of  reeds  drew  near 
to  the  mother,  and  she,  too,  disappeared  suddenly  belo^f  the 
water.  Whates'^r  her  astonishment  was  at  feeling  her  legs 
seized  from  below,  she  had  not  time  to  express  it  before  her  voice 
was  choked.  Nelly  observed  these  disappearances  with  intense 
amazement,  and  delight  stamped  every  lineament  of  her  little 
visage. 

When  the  bundle  moved  towards  the  father  of  the  duck-family, 
that  gentleman  became  agitated  and  suspicious.  Probably  males 
are  less  tmsting  than  females,  in  all  conditions  of  animal  life.  At 
all  events  he  sheered  off.  The  bundle  waxed  impatient  and  made 
a  rush  at  him.  The  drake,  missing  his  wife  and  child,  quacked 
the  alarm.  The  bundle  made  another  rush,  and  suddenly  dis- 
appeared with  a  tremendous  splash,  in  the  midst  of  which  a' leg 
and  an  arm  appeared !  Away  went  the  whole  brood  of  ducks 
with  immense  splutter,  and  Nelly  gave  a  wild  scream  of  terror, 
supposing — and  she  was  right — that  her  brother  had  fallen  into 
a  hole  and  that  he  would  be  drowned.  In  the  latter  supposition, 
however,  she  was  mistaken,  for  Iioy  swam  ashore  in  a  few 
moments  with  a  duck  in  each  hacd  I 

"  Oh !  Boy,  aint  yon  cold  ?"  enquired  Nelly,  as  she  helped  him 
to  squeeze  the  water  out  of  his  garments. 

«  Y-y-ye-es,"  said  Boy,  trembling  in  every  limb,  while  his 
teeth  rattled  like  small  castanets,  "  I'm  very  o-o-c-eold,  but  I'm 
in  luck,  for  I've  g-g-g-got  to-night's  s-s-s-supper,  anyhow." 

This  was  true,  but  as  he  could  not  hope  to  proome  many  more 


nSHDIO  XXTBAOBOIMABT. 


41 


Boppen  in  the  same  fashion  at  that  season  of  the  year,  he  and  his 
sister  went  off  without  delay  to  try  the  fishing. 

They  had  brought  a  fishing-line  and  a  few  hooks,  among  other 
small  things,  from  the  Indian  camp.  This  line  was  now  got  out, 
overhauled,  and  baited  with  a  bit  of  the  young  duck's  breast. 
From  the  end  of  the  point  of  rocks,  which  had  been  named  the 
Wharf,  the  line  was  cast,  for  there  the  lake  was  deep. 

"  Take  the  end  of  the  line,  Nell ;  I  want  you  to  catch  the  first 
fish." 

"  How  d'ye  know  we  shall  catch — oh !  oh-ooo  1" 

The  fish  in  Silver  Lake  had  never  seen  a  bait  or  felt  a  hook  ic 
their  lives  before  that  day.  The^  actually  fought  for  the  prize. 
A  big  bully — as  is  usually  the  case  rber  sphercii  of  life — gained 
it,  and  found  he  had  "  caught  a  Tatu^ir."  He  nearly  pulled  Nelly 
into  the  lake,  but  Boy  sprang  to  the  rescue,  and  before  the 
child's  shout  of  surprise  had  ceased  to  echo  among  the  cliffs, 
a  benqtiiul  silvery  fish,  about  a  foot  and  a  half  long,  lay  tumbling 
on  the  strand. 

"  Hurray !"  cried  Roy.    "  Try  again." 

They  did  try  again,  and  again,  and  over  again,  until  they  had 
caught  two  dozen  and  a  half  of  those  peculiar  "  white-fish"  ^^ioh 
swarm  in  most  of  the  lakes  of  North  America.  Then  they  stopped, 
being  somewhat  exhausted,  and  having  more  than  enough  for 
present  use. 

Before  sitting  down  to  supper  that  night  they  preserved  th^r 
fish  in  the  simple  but  effective  manner  which  is  practised  among 
the  fur-traders  in  cold  weather,  and  which  they  had  learned  while 
with  the  Indians.  Each  fish  was  split' open  and  cleaned  out,  and 
then  hung  up  by  the  tail  to  dry. 

"  What  a  jolly  time  we  shall  hrive  of  it !"  said  Boy,  with  his 
mouth  full,  as  he  sat  beside  Nelly  and  toasted  h.is  toes  that  night 
at  supper. 

"  Yes,"  said  Nelly — "  if— if  we  were  only  a  Uttle  nearer  home." 

This  reply  made  them  both  silent  Mid  sad  for  a  time. 

"  Never  mind,"  resumed  Boy,  cheerily,  as  he  began  another 


:' 


: 


■*P" 


Win 


iWfPii 


HMMMi 


42 


BII.TKB  LAKB. 


white-fish — having  already  finished  one  fish  and  the  dnekling — 
"  cheer  up,  Nell,  we'll  stay  here  long  enough  to  get  op  a  stoek 
0*  dried  meat  and  then  set  off  again.  I  only  wish  it  would  oome 
frost,  to  make  oar  fish  keep." 

Roy's  wish  was  gratified  sooner  than  he  expected,  and  much 
more  folly  than  he  desired. 


CHAPTER  X. 

CHANUES,    8UDINO,   FISHING,    &0. 

HAT  night  King  Frost  spread  his  wings 
over  the  land  with  unwonted  suddenness 
and  rigour,  insomuch  that  a  sheet  of 
ice,  fall  an  inch  thick,  sealed  up  the 
waters  of  Silver  Lake. 

Boy  and  Nelly  had  feasted  heartily, 
and  had  piled  wood  on  the  fire  so  high 
that  the  hut  was  comparatively  warm,  and 
they  slept  soundly  till  morning :  hut,  ahont  sunrise,  the  fire  having 
died  out,  they  both  awoke  shivermg  with  cold.  Being  very  sleepy, 
they  tried  for  some  time  to  drop  off  again  in  spite  of  the  cold. 
Failing  in  this,  Roy  at  last  jumped  up  with  vigour  and  said  he 
would  light  the  firo,  but  he  had  scarcely  issued  from  the  hut, 
when  a  shout  brought  Nelly  in  alarm  and  haste  to  his  side. 

If  Silver  Lake  was  worthy  of  its  name  before,  it  was  infinitely 
more  worthy  of  it  now.  The  sun  had  just  over-topped  the 
opposite  ridge,  and  was  streaming  over  a  very  world  of  silver 
The  frozen  lake  was  like  a  sheet  of  the  purest  glass,  which 
reflected  the  silvery  clouds  and  white  rolling  mists  of  morning  as 
perfectly  in  their  form  as  the  realities  that  floated  in  the  blae 
sky.  Every  tree,  every  twig,  seemed  made  of  silver,  being 
encased  in  hoarfrost,  and  as  these  moved  very  gently  in  the 
calm  air — for  there  was  no  breeze — millions  of  crystalline  points 
oanght  the  son's  rays  and  scattered  them  aroond  with  dazzling 


0UAM0K8,    BLIDINO,    riBUtMO. 


48 


lastre.  Nature  seemed  robed  in  cloth  of  diamonds  ;  but  the  oom- 
parison  is  feeble,  for  what  diamonds,  oat  by  man,  can  eqaal  those 
countless  ciystal  gems  that  are  fashioned  by  the  hand  of  God  to 
decorate,  for  an  hour  or  two,  the  spotless  robe  of  a  winter  morning  ? 

Had  Roy  been  a  man'and  Nelly  a  woman,  the  two  would  probably 
have  cast  around  a  lingering  glance  of  admiration,  and  then  gone 
quietly  about  their  avocations  ;  but,  being  children,  they  made  up 
their  mind?,  on  the  spot,  to  enjoy  the  state  of  things  to  the 
utmost.  They  ran  down  to  the  lake  and  tried  the  ice.  Finding 
that  it  was  strong  enough  to  bear  them,  they  advanced  cautiously 
out  upon  its  glassy  surface  ;  then  they  tried  to  slide,  but  did  not 
succeed  well,  owing  to  their  soft  mocassins  being  ill  adapted  for 
sliding.  Then  they  picked  up  stones,  and  tried  how  far  they 
could  make  them  skim  out  on  the  lake. 

"  How  I  wish  we  could  slide  I"  exclaimed  Nelly,  pausing  in  the 
midst  of  her  amusement. 

Boy  also  paused,  and  appeared  to  meditate  for  a  minute. 

"  So  you  shall,"  said  he  quickly.  "  Gome  and  let  us  break- 
fast, and  I'll  make  you  a  pair  of  sliders." 

"  Sliders  t  what  are  they  ?" 

"  You  shall  see ;  get  breakfast  ready,  a  man's  fit  for  nothing 
without  grub." 

While  breakfast  was  preparing.  Boy  began  to  fashion  wooden 
soles  for  his  sister's  feet  and  his  owa  These  he  fixed  on  by 
means  of  strips  of  deerskin,  which  were  sunk  into  grooves  in  the 
under  part  of  the  soles  to  prevent  them  from  chafing.  Bough 
and  ready  they  were,  nevertheless  they  fitted  well  and  tightly  to 
their  feet ;  but  it  was  found  that  the  want  of  a  joint  at  the  instep 
rendered  it  difiicult  to  walk  with  these  soles  on,  and  impossible  to 
run.  Hoj'b  ingenuity,  however,  soon  overcame  this  difficulty. 
He  out  the  soles  through  just  under  the  instep,  and  then,  boring 
two  holes  in  each  part,  lashed  them  firmly  together  with  deerskin, 
thus  producing  a  joint  or  hinge.  Eager  to  try  this  new  invention, 
he  fastened  on  his  own  "  sliders  "  first,  and,  running  down  to  the 
lake^  made  a  rush  at  the  ice  and  sent  himself  off  with  all'his  foree. 


"WP^ 


44 


BILTXB   LAKB. 


Never  was  boy  more  taken  by  surprise ;  he  went  skimming  over 
the  surface  like  a  stone  from  a  sling.  The  other  side  of  the  lake 
seemed  to  be  the  only  termination  of  his  journey.  "  What  if  it 
should  not  be  bearing  in  the  middle!"  His  delight  was  evinced 
by  a  cheer.  It  was  echoed,  with  the  addition  of  a  laugh  by 
Nell,  who  stood  in  rapt  admiration  on  the  shore.  Roy  began 
well,  with  his  legs  far  apart  and  his  arms  in  the  air  ;  then  he 
turned  round  and  advanced  the  wrong  way,  then  he  staggered — 
tried  to  recover  himself,  failed,  shouted,  cheered  again,  and  fell 
flat  on  his  back,  and  performed  the  remainder  of  the  journey  in 
that  position ! 

It  was  a  magnificent  slide,  and  was  repeated  and  continued, 
with  every  possible  and  conceivable  modification,  for  full  two 
hours,  at  the  end  of  which  time  Nelly  said  she  couldn't  take 
another  slide  to  save  her  life,  and  Boy  felt  as  if  eveiy  bone  in  his 
body  were  going  out  of  joint. 

"  This  is  all  very  well,"  said  Boy,  as  they  went  up  to  the  hut 
together,  "  but  it  won't  do  much  in  the  way  of  getting  us  a  supply 
of  meat  or  fish." 

"  That's  true,"  assented  Nelly. 

"  Well,  then,"  continued  Boy,  "  we'll  rest  a  bit  and  then  set  to 
work.  It's  quite  plain  that  we  can  have  no  more  wading  after 
ducks,  but  the  fish  won't  object  to  feed  in  oold  weather,  so  we'll 
tiy  them  again  after  having  had  a  bit  to  eat" 

In  pursuance  of  this  plan  the  two  went  to  the  wharf,  after 
having  refreshed  themselves,  and  set  to  work  with  the  fishing  line. 
Nelly  baited  the  hook,  and  Boy  cut  a  hole  in  the  ice  with  his  axe. 
Having  put  in  the  hook,  and  let  it  down  to  the  bottom,  they  stood 
at  the  edge  of  the  hole — expectant ! 

"  Frost  soems  to  spoil  their  appetite,"  said  Boy,  in  a  tone  of 
disappointment,  after  about  five  minutes  had  elapsed. 

A  fish  seemed  to  have  been  listening,  for  before  Nelly  oonld 
reply,  there  came  a  violent  tug  at  the  line.  Boy  returned  a  still 
more  violent  tug,  and,  inste  mI  of  hauling  it  np  hand  over  hand, 
ran  swiftly'  along  the  ice,  drawing  the  line  after  him,  until  the 


iiiiiiiw  i.M  ijiiityiiiBiaririMiwiiii 


g  over 
,he  lake 
hat  if  it 
evinced 
augh  by 
'  began 
then  he 
gered — 
and  fell 
urnej  in 

mtinaed, 

fall  two 

dn't  take 

)ne  in  his 

o  the  hnt 
a  sapply 


len  set  to 
ling  after 
r,  BO  we'll 

arf,  after 
hing  line. 
h  his  axe. 
haj  stood 

.  a  tone  of 

elly  conld 
led  a  still 
>Ter  hand, 
,  until  the 


MiTii  ■ 


>i,   >^ 


iSE*5PJ.s»*S!<e"'*"''' 


OHAKOBB,   BLtOIIta,   ri^HINO. 


4S 


fish  eame  ont  of  the  hole  with  a  flop  and  a  severe  splatter.  It 
was  above  four  pounds  weight,  and  they  afterwards  found  that  the 
deeper  the  water  into  which  the  line  was  east  the  larger  were  the 
fish  procured.  White-fish  were  the  kind  they  caught  most  of, 
but  there  w«n  a  species  of  trout,  much  resembling  a  salmon  in 
colour  and  flavour,  of  which  they  caught  a  good  many  above  ten 
and  even  fifteen  pounds  weight.  All  these  fish,  except  those 
reserved  for  immediate  use,  they  cleaned  and  hung  up  in  the 
manner  already  described. 

Thus  they  occupied  themselves  for  several  days,  and  as  the 
work  was  hard  they  did  not  wander  much  from  their  hat,  but  ate 
their  meals  with  appetite  and  slept  at  nights  soundly. 

One  night,  jast  as  they  were  about  to  lay  down  to  rest,  Boy 
went  out  to  fetch  an  armful  of  firewood.  He  returned  with  a 
look  of  satisfaction  on  his  face. 

"  Look  here,  Nell,  what  call  ye  that  ?"  pointing  to  a  few  speeka 
of  white  on  his  breast  and  arms. 

"  Snow !"  exclaimed  Nelly. 

"  Ay — snow !  it's  come  at  last,  and  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  we 
have  far  more  than  enough  o'  grub  now,  and  it's  time  we  were  off 
firom  this.  You  see,  lass,  we  can't  expect  to  find  much  game  on 
a  journey  in  winter,  so  we  must  carry  all  we  can  with  us.  Our 
backs  won't  take  so  much  as  the  sled,  but  the  sled  can't  go 
loaded  till  there's  snow  on  the  ground,  so  the  moment  there  is 
enough  of  it  we'll  set  off.  Before  starting,  hows'ever,  I  must  go 
off  and  try  for  a  deer,  for  men  can't  walk  well  on  fish  alone,  and 
when  I'm  away  you  can  be  getting  the  snow-shoes  repaired  and 
the  sled-lashings  overhauled.  We  will  set  about  all  that  to-morrow." 

'<  But  isn't  tomorrow  Sabbath ?"  said  Nelly. 

"  So  'tis !  i  forgot ;  well,  we  can  put  it  off  till  Monday." 

It  may  be  well  hero  to  remark>that  Mrs.  Gore,  being  a  sineere 
Christian,  had  a  great  reverence  for  the  Sabbath-day,  and  had 
imbued  her  children  with  some  of  her  own  spirit  in  regard  to  it. 
During  the  troubles  and  anxieties  of  the  period  when  the  children 
were  lost  in  the  mow  and  oaptored  by  the  Indians,  they  had  lost 


» 


iWI»i»>.^<[fcHjHt,1  j';>t*<y.ffV)rt)W;.wt^<rt»ai5-r.v.i> 


>i WW  I  \.in'WVV< 


■HH 


46 


BILVKB   I.AUI. 


oonnt  of  the  daya  of  the  week.  Boy  was  not  mnoh  troubled  about 
this,  but  his  sister's  tender  conscience  ciiused  her  much  nneaaineas; 
and  when  they  afterwards  ran  away  from  the  Indians,  and  could 
do  as  they  pleased,  they  agreed  together  to  fix  a  Sabbath-day  for 
themselTes,  beginning  with  the  particular  day  on  which  it  firat 
occurred  to  them  that  they  had  not  kept  a  Sabbath  "  for  a  long, 
long  time." 

"  We  can't  find  out  the  right  day  now,  you  know,"  observed 
Nelly,  in  an  apologetic  tone. 

"Of  course  not," said  Roy;  "besides,  it  don't  matter,  because 
you  remember  how  it  is  in  the  Ten  Commandments :  '  Six  daya 
abalt  thou  labour  and  do  all  thy  work,  but  the  aetienth  day  is  the 
Sabbath.'  We  will  keep  to-day  then ;  work  six  daya,  and  then 
keep  the  seventh  day." 

V|^e  have  elsewhere  observed  that  Roy  waa  a  bitofaphilo- 
aopher.  Having  reasoned  the  matter  out  thus  philosophically, 
the  children  held  to  their  resolve ;  they  travelled  six  days,  and 
observed  every  seventh  day  as  the  Sabbath. 

The  particular  Sabbath-day  about  which  we  are  writing 
turned  out  to  be  a  memorable  one,  as  we  shall  see. 

Roy  and  Nelly  lay  down  that  night,  side  by  aide,  as  was  their 
wont,  with  their  aeparate  blankets  wrapped  around  them  and 
their  feet  pointing  towards  the  fire.  Of  course  they  never  un- 
dressed at  night  on  this  journey,  but  washed  their  underclothing 
as  they  found  time  and  opportunity. 

Soon  they  were  sound  asleep,  and  their  gentle  breathing  was 
the  only  sound  that  broke  the  stillness  of  the  night.  But  snow 
waa  falling  silently  in  thick  heavy  flakes,  and  it  soon  Iny  deep  on 
the  bosom  of  Silver  Lake.  Towards  morning  the  wind  arose,  and 
snow-drift  began  to  whirl  round  the  hut  and  block  up  its  low 
doorway. 

Still  the  brother  and  sister  slumbered  peacefully,  undisturbed 
by  the  gathering  storm. 


ed  about 

Jasiness ; 
ad  coald 
i-day  for 
h  it  first 
r  a  long, 

obierred 


beeaase 

Six  days 

lay  is  the 

and  then 

>f  a  philo- 
ophically, 
days,  and 

e  writing 

was  their 
them   and 

never  un- 
ierclothing 

thing  was 
But  snow 
ly  deep  on 
arose,  and 
up  its  low 

ndistnrbed 


47 
CHAPTER   XI. 

A   OHANOB    IN   TRK    WEATHER.      RABBITS   AND    BEARS   APPBAR. 

!ll  Hallo  I  I  say,  Nelly,  what's  all  this?" 
There  was  good  canso  for  the  tone  of 
Hurprise  in  which  Roy  uttered  these 
Words  when  he  awoke,  for  the  fireplace 
and  the  lower  half  of  his  own,  as  well  as 
his  sister's,  blanket  were  covered  with  at 
least  half  a  foot  of  snow.  It  had  foutal 
its  way  in  at  the  hole  in  the  roof  of  the 
hut,  and  the  wind  had  blown  a  great  deal  through  tho  crevice? 
of  the  doorway,  so  that  a  snow-wreath  more  than  a  foot  high  lay 
close  to  Nelly's  elbow. 

This  was  bad  enough,  but  what  made  it  worse  was  that  » 
perfect  hurricane  was  blowing  outside.  Fortunately  the  hut  was 
sheltorod  by  the  woods,  and  by  a  high  cliff  on  the  windward  side  ; 
bnt  this  cliff,  although  it  broke  the  force  of  the  gale,  occasioned 
an  eddy  which  sent  fearful  ^tists  and  thick  clouds  of  snow  ever 
and  anon  full  against  the  doorway. 

"  Oh  !  Roy,  what  shall  we  do,"  said  Nelly,  in  an  anxious 
tone. 

"  Don't  know,"  said  Roy,  jumping  up  and  tightening  his  belt ; 
"  you  never  can  know  what's  got  to  be  done  till  you've  took  an 
observation  o'  what's  goin'  on,  as  daddy  used  to  Hay.  Hallo ' 
hold  on.  I  say,  if  it  goes  on  like  this  it'll  bluw  the  hut  down. 
Gome,  Nelly,  don't  whimper  ;  it's  only  a  puff  after  all,  an'  if  it 
did  capsize  us  it  wouldn't  be  the  first  time  we  had  a  tumble  in 
the  snow.  Seems  <o  me  that  we're  goin'  to  have  a  stormy 
Sabbath,  though,  liouse  up,  lass,  and  while  you're  clearin'  off 
the  snow,  I'll  go  get  a  bundle  o'  sticks  and  light  the  fire. 

Boy  stooped  to  pass  under  the  low  doorway,  or,  rathr  ,  hole  of 
the  hut,  and  bending  his  head  to  the  blast  passed  out ;  while 
NeUy,  whose  heart  was  cheered  by  her  brother's  confident  tone 


•«2w«?*,'«atok.  •*" 


48 


8n.WB   LAKK. 


moro  than  by  his  words,  set  about  shoTelling  away  the  snow-drift 
with  great  activity. 

Presently  Hoy  returned,  staggering  under  a  heavy  load  of  fire- 
wood. 

"  Hoi  Nell,"  he  cried,  flinging  down  the  wood  with  a  clatter, 
"just  you  como  an'  see  Silver  Lake.  Such  a  sight  it  is  you 
never  saw  ;  but  come  slick  off — never  mind  your  belt ;  just  roll 
your  blanket  round  you,  over  head  and  ears — there,"  said  he, 
assisting  to  fasten  the  rough  garment  and  seizing  his  sister's 
band,  "  hold  on  tight  by  me.' 

"  Oh,  what  a  storm  !"  gasped  the  little  girl,  ai  she  staggered 
oat  and  came  within  the  full  force  of  the  gale. 

J*  was  indeed  a  storm,  such  as  would  have  appalled  the  hearts 
of  youngsters  less  accustomed  to  the  woods  than  were  our  hero 
and  huroiiit).  But  Roy  and  Nolly  had  been  bom  and  bred  in  the 
miuat  of  nto.my  l(.^?:wood»  ulements,  and  were  not  easily  alarmcMJ, 
chiefly  becancfi  tiiey  had  become  accusbmed  to  estimate  correctly 
•'le  extent  of  most  of  tha  danger«  ♦'■n*  mc:  .^i  ad  them  from  time 
to  limn.  A  falo  c  .;>,  Hercest  kind  wasblowin'^.  In  its  passage 
it  bent  tne  ut>  j>  natil  they  groaned  and  crbJted  again ;  it  tore 
off  the  smalle  ffigs  and  wl  i>>ktid  them  up  into  the  air;  it  lifk'<t 
the  suow  <n  ^ .  toses  out  i  the  open  spots  in  the  woods,  and 
hurled  them  in  cloud-like  volumes  everywhere ;  and  it  roared  and 
shrieked  through  the  valleys  and  round  the  mountain  tops  as  if 
a  thousand  evil  spirits  were  let  loose  upon  the  scene. 

Silver  Lake  wac  still  silvery  in  its  aspect,  for  the  white  drift 
was  flying  across  it  like  the  waves  of  a  raging  sea ;  but  here, 
being  exposed,  the  turmoil  was  so  tremendous  that  there  v«i8  no 
distinguishing  between  earth,  lake,  and  sky.  "  Confusion,  worse 
confounded"  reigned  everywhere,  or,  rather,  appeared  to  reign; 
for,  in  point  of  fact,  there  is  tto  tonfudon  K'latever  in  the  worka 
and  ways  of  God.  Common  sense,  if  uni^len,  would  oil  ns  that. 
The  Word  reveals  it,  and  sc'enoe  tf  lat^  ^aars  hs"  bJded  iti 
testimoiiy  thereto. 

Boy  and  Nelly  very  :..aturBlIy  came  to  the  concliuion  that 


iiiiwfcni'awaraiwiafli 


'VitliiK>!:Mt'< 


XABBITfl   AND    BEAB8   APPRAB. 


40 


■drift 


things  were  in  a  rery  diHordered  state  indeed  on  that  Sabbath 
morning,  so  tbejr  returned  to  their  hut  to  spend  the  daj  as  best 
they  might. 

Their  first  care  was  to  kindle  the  fire  and  prepare  breakfast. 
While  Nelly  was  engaged  in  this,  Koy  went  out  and  cut  several 
small  trees,  with  which  he  propped  the  but  all  round  to  prevent 
it  from  being  blown  down.  But  it  was  dfscovered,  first,  that  the 
fire  would  hardly  kindle,  and,  second,  that  when  it  was  kindled  it 
filled  the  whole  place  with  smoke.  By  dint  of  perseverance, 
however,  breakfast  was  cooked  and  devoured,  after  which  the  fire 
was  allowed  to  go  out,  as  the  smoke  had  almost  blinded  them. 

"  Never  mind,  Nell,  cheer  up,"  said  Roy,  on  concluding 
breakfast ;  "  we'll  rig  up  a  tent  to  keep  the  snow  off  as." 

The  snow,  be  it  understood,  had  been  falling  into  the  fire,  and, 
more  or  less,  upon  themselves,  through  the  hole  in  tho  roof ;  so 
they  made  a  tent  inside  the  hut,  by  erecting  two  posts  with  a 
ridge-pole  at  a  height  of  three  feet  from  the  ground,  over  which 
they  spread  one  of  their  blankets.  Under  this  tent  they  reclined 
with  the  other  blankets  spread  over  them,  and  chatted  comfort- 
ably during  the  greater  part  of  that  day. 

Of  course  their  talk  was  chiefly  of  home,  and  of  the  mother 
who  hac*.  been  the  snn  and  the  joy  of  their  ezistsnce  up  to  that 
sad  day  when  they  were  lost  in  the  snow,  and  naturally  they 
conversed  of  the  Bible,  and  the  hymns  which  their  mother  had 
made  the  chief  oh  eots  of  their  contempUtion  on  the  Sabbaths 
they  had  spent  at  Fort  Enterprise. 

Monday  was  as  bad  as  Sunday  in  regard  to  weather,  but 
Tuesday  dawned  bright  and  calm,  so  that  our  wanderers  were 
enabled  to  resume  their  avocations.  The  snow-shoes  were  put  in 
order,  the  sled  was  overhauled  and  mended,  and  more  fish  were 
caught  and  hung  up  to  dry.  In  the  evening  Koy  loaded  his  gun 
with  ball,  pnt  on  his  snow-shoes,  and  sallied  forth  alone  to  search 
for  deer.  He  carried  with  him  several  small  pieces  of  line 
wherewith  to  make  rabbit-snares ;  for,  the  moment  the  snow  fell, 
innumerable  tracks  revealed  the  &ot  that  there  were  thoosMids  of 


PMMiPliiMii 


60 


M 


Piiii 


BILTEB  LAKX. 


rabbits  in  that  region.  Nelly,  meanwhile,  bnsied  herself  in 
patting  the  hut  in  oiHer,  and  in  repairing  the  mocassinu  which 
would  be  required  for  the  journey  home. 

Lest  any  reader  should  wonder  where  onr  heroine  found 
materials  for  all  the  mending  and  repairing  referred  to,  we  may 
remark  that  the  Indians  in  t;he  wilderness  were,  and  still  are, 
supplied  with  needles,  beads,  cloth,  powder  and  shot,  guns,  axes, 
&c.,  &c.,  by  the  adventurous  fur-traders,  who  penetrate  deep  and 
far  into  the  wildernesses  of  North  America ;  and  when  Nelly  and 
Boy  ran  away  from  their  captors  they  took  care  to  carry  with 
them  an  ample  supply  of  such  things  as  they  might  require  in 
their  flight. 

About  half  a  mile  from  the  hnt  Roy  set  several  snares.  He 
had  often  helped  his  father  in  such  work,  and  knew  exactly  how 
to  do  it.  Selecting  a  rabbit-track  at  a  spot  where  it  passed 
between  two  bushes,  he  set  his  snare  so  that  it  presented  a  loop 
in  the  centre  of  the  path.  This  loop  was  fastened  to  the  bough 
of  u  tree  bent  downwards,  and  so  arranged  that  it  held  fast  to  a 
root  in  the  ground ;  when  a  rabbit  should  endeavour  to  leap  or 
force  'through  it,  he  would  necessarily  pull  away  the  fastening 
that  held  it  down,  and  the  bough  would  spring  up  and  lift  the 
hapless  creature  by  the  neck  off  the  ground. 

Having  set  half-a-dozen  such  snares,  Boy  continued  his  march 
in  search  of  deer-tracks.  He  was  unsuccessful,  but  to  his 
surprise  he  came  suddenly  on  the  huge  track  of  a  bear  t  Being 
early  in  the  season,  this  particular  bruin  had  not  yet  settled 
himself  into  his  winter  quarters,  so  Boy  determined  to  make  a 
trap  for  him.  He  had  not  much  hope  of  catching  him,  but 
resolved  to  try,  >«nd  not  to  tell  Nelly  of  his  discovery  until  be 
should  see  the  result. 

Against  the  face  of  a  cliff  he  raised  several  huge  stones  so  as 
to  form  a  sort  of  box,  or  cave,  or  hole,  the  front  of  which  was 
open,  the  sides  being  the  stones  referred  to,  and  the  back  the 
cliff.  Then  he  felled  a  tree  as  thick  as  his  waist,  which  stood 
close  by,  and  so  managed  that  it  fell  near  to  his  trap.     By  great 


s»?S$3S?'' : 


:'JS^v5??^Sffi5K"" 


jrself  in 
lu  which 

ne  found 
we  may 

still  are, 
iins,  axes, 

deep  and 
Nelly  and 
arry  with 
require  in 

ares.  He 
ucCly  how 
it  passed 
ited  a  loop 
the  bongh 
1  fast  to  a 
to  leap  or 
3  fastening 
md  lift  the 

[  his  march 
but  to  his 
a  I  Being 
yet  settled 
to  make  a 
;  him,  but 
ry  until  he 

itones  so  as 
'  which  was 
8  back  the 
rhioh  stood 
By  great 


"»wpip«r 


•mmpmfnmfr 


BABBITS  AND  BKAB8  APPXAB. 


61 


exertions,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  wooden  lever  prepared  on  the 
spot,  he  rolled  this  tree — when  denuded  of  its  branches — close  to 
the  mouth  of  the  trap.  Next  he  cut  three  small  pieces  of  stick 
in  such  a  form  that  they  made  a  trigger — something  like  the 
figure  i — on  which  the  tree  might  rest     On  the  top  of  this 


1.  The  trigger. 


2.  The  bait. 
^^  3.  The  tree-stem. 


trigger  he  raised  the  tree-stem,  and  on  the  end  of  the  trigger, 
which  projected  into  the  trap,  he  stuck  a  piece  of  dried  fish,  so 
that  when  the  bear  should  creep  under  the  stem  and  touch  the 
bait,  it  would  disarrange  the  trigger,  set  it  off,  and  the  heavy 
stem  would  &11  on  bruin's  back.  As  he  knew,  however,  that 
bears  were  very  strong,  he  cut  several  other  thick  stems,  and 
piled  them  on  the  fij-st  to  give  it  additional  weight. 

All  being  ready,  and  the  evening  far  advanced,  he  returned  to 
the  hat  to  supper. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
boy's  dbeam. 

ELLY,  ye-a-a-o-w!"  exclaimed  Roy, 
yawning  as  he  awoke  on  the  following 
morning  firom  a  dream  in  which  bears 
figured  laryp'y ;  "  what  a  night  I've  had 
of  it,  to  be  sure — fightin'  like  a  mad 

buffalo  with " 

Here  Boy  paused  abruptly. 
"  Well, what wereyou fighting  with  ?" 
asked  Nell,  with  a  smile  that  ended  in  a  yawn. 

"  I  won't  tell  you  just  now,  lass,  as  it  might  spoil  your  appetite 
for  breakfiut.     Bet  about  getting  that  ready  as  fast  as  you  can, 

E  2 


^m 


■.J 


62 


SILVEB   LAKE. 


for  I  want  to  Im  off  aq  soon  as  possible  to  visit  my  snares.  I 
gaesB  we  shall  have  rabbits  for  dinger  to-day." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  the  sled  ?"  enquired  Nelly, 
observing  that  her  brother  was  overhauling  the  lashings  and 
drag-rope. 

'*  Well,  I  set  a  lot  o'  snares,  an'  there's  no  sayin'  how  many 
rabbits  may  have  got  into  'em.  Besides,  if  the  rabbits  in  them 
parts  are  tender-hearted,  a  lot  o'  their  rektions  may  have  died  o' 
grief,  so  I  shall  take  the  sled  to  fetch  'em  all  home  1 " 

After  breakfast  Boy  loaded  his  gun  with  ball,  and  putting 
on  his  snow-shoes,  sallied  forth  with  an  admonition  to  his  sister 
to  "  have  a  roarin'  fire  ready  to  cook  a  rare  feast  I " 

Nelly  laughingly  replied  that  she  would,  and  so  they  parted. 

The  first  part  of  Boy's  journey  that  day  led  him  through  a 
thickly-wooded  part  of  the  country.  He  went  along  with  the 
quick,  yet  cautions  and  noiseless,  step  of  a  hunter  accuFtomed  to 
the  woods  from  infancy.  His  thoughts  were  busy  within  him, 
and  fur  away  from  the  scene  in  which  he  moved ;  yet,  such  is  the 
force  of  habit,  he  never  for  a  moment  ceased  to  east  quick, 
inquiring  glances  on  each  side  as  he  went  along.  Nothing 
escaped  his  observation 

"  Oh,  if  I  could  only  get  a  deer  this  day,"  thought  he,  "  how 
BcrumptiouB  it  would  be  I " 

What  he  meant  by  "  sorumptious"  is  best  known  to  himself, 
but  at  that  moment  a  large  deer  suddenly — perhaps  scrtimp- 
tiouslyl — appeared  on  the  brow  of  a  ridge  not  fifty  yards  in 
advance  of  him.  They  had  been  both  walking  towards  each 
other  all  that  forenoon.  Boy,  having  no  powers  of  scent  beyond 
human  powers,  did  not  know  the  fact,  and  as  the  wind  was 
blowing  from  the  deer  to  the  hunter,  the  former — gifted  though  he 
was  with  scentiag  powers — was  also  ignorant  of  the  approaching 
meeting. 

One  instant  tho  startled  deer  stood  in  bewildered  surprise. 
One  instant  Boy  paused  in  mute  amazement.  The  next  instant 
the  deer  wheeled  round,  while  Boy's  gun  leaped  to  his  shoulder. 


mispai 


!'g!m*''?.,^S?. 


":^'!r"'fjmm- 


BABBITS  AMD  BBABB  APPBAB. 


68 


res. 


how 


There  was  a  load  report,  followed  by  reverberating  eelioes  among 
the  hills,  and  the  deer  lay  dead  on  the  snow. 

The  young  hunter  conld  not  repress  a  shoot  of  joy,  for  he  not 
only  had  secured  a  noble  stag,  but  he  had  now  a  soffioieney  of' 
food  to  enable  him  to  resume  his  homeward  journey. 

His  first  impulse  was  to  run  back  to  the  hut  with  the  deer's 
tongue  and  a  few  choice  bits,  to  tell  Nelly  of  his  good  fortune ; 
-  but,  on  second  thoughts,  he  resolved  to  complete  the  business  on 
which  he  had  started.  Leaving  the  deer  where  it  fell  he  went  on, 
and  found  that  the  snares  had  been  very  sacoeasful.  Some, 
indeed,  had  been  broken  by  the  strength  of  the  boughs  to  which 
they  had  been  fastened,  and  others  remained  as  he  had  set  them ; 
but  above  two-thirds  of  them  had  each  a  rabbit  hung  up  by  the 
neck,  BO  that  the  sled  was  pretty  well  loaded  when  all  the  snares 
had  been  visited. 

He  had  by  this  time  approached  the  spot  where  the  bear-trap 
was  set,  and  naturally  began  to  grow  a  little  anxioas,  for, 
although  his  chance  of  success  was  very  slight,  his  good  fortone 
thut  morning  had  made  him  more  sanguine  than  nsnal. 

There  is  a  proverb  which  asserts  that  "  it  never  rains  but  it 
pours."  It  would  seem  to  be  a  common  experience  of  mankind 
that  pieces  of  good  furtnne,  as  well  as  nusfortunes,  come  not 
sbgly  Whether  the  proverb  be  true  or  no,  this  experience  was 
realized  by  Eoy  on  that  day,  for  he  actually  did  find  a  bear  in 
his  trap  I  Moreovi  it  was  alive,  and,  apparently,  had  only  just 
been  caught,  for  it  si.  -ggled  to  free  itself  with  a  degree  of  ferocity 
that  was  terrible  to  witness. 

It  was  an  ordinary  black  bear  of  considerable  size  and  immense 
strength.  .  Heavy  and  thick  though  the  trees  were  that  lay  on  its 
back  and  crushed  it  to  the  earth,  it  caused  them  to  shake,  leap, 
and  quiver  as  though  they  had  been  endowed  with  life.  Roy  was 
greatly  alarmed,  for  he  perceived  that  at  each  successive  straggle 
the  brute  was  ridding  itself  of  the  superincumbent  loal,  while 
fierce  growls  and  short  gasps  indicated  at  once  the  wrath  and  the 
agony  by  which  it  was  convulsed. 


JL^ 


mill 


RHIiliiiiii^^ 


■a'w-iif* ;  .^^R?^^  ful 


64 


SILTKB  I.AKB. 


Boy  had  neglected  to  re-load  his  piece  after  shooting  the  deer 
— a  most  <"ihnnter-like  error,  which  was  the  result  of  excitement. 
Thinking  that  he  had  not  time  to  load,  he  acted  now  on  the 
first  suggestion  of  his  bold  spirit.  Besting  his  gnn  against  a 
tree,  he  drew  the  small  axe  that  hnng  at  his  belt  and  attacked 
the  bear. 

The  first  blow  was  well  delirered  and  sank  deep  into  bmin's 
skull ;  but  that  skull  was  thick,  and  the  brain  was  not  reached. 
A  roar  and  a  furious  struggle  caused  Boy  to  deliver  his  second 
blow  with  less  efiect,  but  this  partial  failure  caused  his  pugnacity 
to  rise,  and  he  immediately  rained  down  blows  on  the  head  and 
neck  of  the  bear  so  fast  and  furious  that  the  snow  was  speedily 
eovered  with  blood.  In  proportion  as  Boy  strove  to  end  the 
conflict  by  vigorous  and  quick  blows,  the  bear  tried  to  get  free  by 
furious  efibr^s.  He  shook  the  tree-stem  that  held  him  down  so 
violently  that  one  of  the  other  trees  that  rested  on  it  fell  cff,  and 
thus  the  load  was  lightened.  Boy  observed  this,  and  made  a 
desperate  effort  to  split  the  bear's  skull.  In  his  haste  he  mis- 
directed the  blow,  which  fell  not  on  the  head  but  on  the  neck,  in 
which  the  iron  head  of  the  axe  wan  instantly  buried — a  main  artery 
was  severed,  and  a  fountain  ot  blood  sprang  forth.  This  was 
fortunate,  for  the  bear's  strength  was  quickly  exhausted,  and,  in 
less  than  two  minutes  after,  it  sank  dead  upon  the  snow. 

Roy  sat  down  to  rest  and  wipe  the  blood  from  his  hands  and 
garments,  and  then,  cutting  off  the  claws  of  the  animal  as  a  trophy, 
he  left  it  there  for  a  time.  Having  now  far  more  than  it  was  possible 
for  him  to  drag  to  the  hut,  he  resolved  to  proceed  thither  with  the 
rabbits,  and  bring  Nelly  back  to  help  him  to  drag  home  the  deer. 

•'  Well  done,  Roy,"  cried  Nelly,  clapping  her  bands,  when  her 
brother  approached  with  the  sled-load  of  rabbits,  "  but  you  are 
covered  with  blood.     Have  you  cut  yourself  ?  " 

She  became  nervously  anxious,  for  she  well  knew  that  a  bad 
cut  on  a  journey  costs  many  a  man  his  life,  as  it  not  only  disables 
firom  continuing  the  journey  but  from  hunting  for  provisions. 

"  All  right,  Nell,  but  I've  killed  a  deer  and — and— something 


ii!iw,.^myr'"' ..J!k-..-^ii.- 


"••*" 


i 


BABBITS   AND   BBAB8   AI*PEAB. 


66 


else  I  Gome,  lass,  get  on  your  snow-shoes  and  follow  me.  We'll 
drag  home  the  deer,  and  then  see  what  is  to  be  done  with  the " 

"  Oh,  what  is  it  ?  do  tell ! "  cried  Nell,  eagerly. 

"  Well,  then,  it's  a  bear ! " 

"  Nonsense — tell  me  true,  now." 

"  That's  the  truth,  Nell,  as  yon  shall  see,  and  here  are  the 
olaws.     Look  sharp,  now,  and  let's  off." 

Away  went  these  two  through  the  snow  until  they  came  to 
where  the  deer  had  been  left.  It  was  hard  work  to  get  it  lushed 
on  the  sled,  and  much  harder  work  to  drag  it  over  the  snow, 
but  by  dint  of  perseverance  and  resolution  they  got  it  home. 
They  were  so  fatigued,  however,  that  it  was  impossible  to  think  of 
doing  the  saue  with  the  bear.  This  was  a  perplexing  state  of 
things,  for  Roy  had  observed  a  wolf-track  when  out,  and  feared 
that  nothing  but  the  bones  would  be  left  in  the  morning. 

"  What  ts  to  be  done  ?"  said  Nelly,  with  that  pretty  air  of  utter 
helplessness  which  she  was  wont  to  assume  when  she  felt  that 
her  brother  was  the  proper  person  to  decide. 

Roy  pondered  a  few  moments,  and  then  said  abruptly,  "  Oamp- 
out,  Nelly." 

"Oamp-out?" 

"  Ay,  beside  the  bear — keep  it  company  all  night  with  a  big 
fire  to  scare  away  the  wolves.  We'll  put  everything  into  the  hut, 
block  up  the  door,  and  kindle  a  huge  fire  outside  that  will  bum 
nearly  all  night.     So  now,  let's  go  about  it  at  once." 

Although  Nelly  did  not  much  relish  the  idea  of  leaving  their 
comfortable  hut,  and  going  out  to  encamp  in  the  snow  beside  the 
carcase  of  a  dead  bear,  she  was  so  accustomed  to  regard  her 
brother's  plans  as  perfect,  and  to  obey  him  promptly,  that  she  at 
once  began  to  assist  in  the  necessary  preparations.  Having 
secured  everything  safely  in  the  hut  and  kindled  a  fire  near  it, 
which  was  large  enough  to  have  roasted  an  ox,  they  set  off  for 
the  bear-trap,  and  reached  it  in  time  to  scare  away  a  large  wolf 
which  was  just  going  to  begin  his  supper  on  bruin. 

An  encampment  was  then  made  in  the  usual  way,  close  to  the 


'^- 


66 


BILTEB   LAKE. 


bear-trap,  a  fire  as  large  as  could  be  oonyenienllj  made  was  kiodlbd, 
and  the  brother  and  sister  vrapped  themselres  in  their  blankets 
and  lay  comfortably  down  beside  it  to  spend  the  night  there. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

"  SHOOSKIM.'  " 

I  EXT  day  Boy  and  Nelly  rose  vith  the 
snn,  and  spent  the  forenoon  in  skinning 
and  onttmg  np  the  bear,  for  they  intended 
to  dry  part  of  the  meat,  and  use  it  on 
their  jonmey.  The  afternoon  was  spent 
in  dragging  the  Tarions  parts  to  the  hut. 
In  the  evening  Boy  proposed  that  they 
should  go  and  have  a  shoosk.  Nelly 
agreed,  so  they  sallied  forth  to  a  neighbouring  slope  with  their 
sledge. 

Shoosking,  good  reader,  is  a  game  which  is  played  not 
only  by  children  but  by  men  and  women ;  it  is  also  played  in 
various  parts  of  the  world,  such  as  Canada  and  Bussia,  and 
goes  by  various  names ;  but  we  shall  adopt  the  name  used 
by  our  hero  and  heroine,  namely  "shoosking."  It  is  very 
simple,  bat  uncommonly  violent,  and  consists  in  hauling  a 
sledge  to  the  top  of  a  snow-hill  or  slope,  getting  upon  it, 
and  sliding  down  to  the  bottom.  Of  course,  the  extent  of 
violence  depends  on  the  steepness  of  the  slope,  the  :'.nf«r- 
mptions  that  occur  in  it,  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  ai  the 
bottom.  We  once  shoosked  with  an  Indian  down  a  wood-cutter's 
track,  on  the  side  of  a  steep  hill,  which  had  a  sharp  turn  in  it, 
with  a  pile  of  firewood  at  the  turn,  and  a  hole  in  the  snow  at  the 
bottom,  in  which  were  a  number  of  o'.d  empty  casks.  Our  great 
difficulties  in  this  place  were  to  take  the  turn  without  grazing  the 
firewood,  and  to  stop  our  sledges  before  reaching  the  hole.  We 
each  had  separate  sledges.    For  some  time  we  got  on  famously. 


■"Wf 


"h  \ootki»."~Pafff  M. 


"1 


■)i 


'(■        i^i 


-■^,' ■•,.;>, 


-•rT' 


«  bhoosun'." 

bat  at  last  w«  ran  into  the  pile  of  firewood,  and  tore  all  the 
buttons  oB  onr  coat,  and  the  Indian  went  down  into  the  hole  with 
a  hideous  crash  among  the  empty  casks ;  yet,  strange  to  sajr, 
neither  of  us  came  by  any  serious  damage  ! 

"  There's  a  splendid  slope,"  said  Roy,  as  they  walked  briskly 
along  the  shores  of  Silver  Lake,  dragging  the  sledge  after  them, 
"just  beyond  the  big  cliff,  but  I'm  afraid  it's  too  much  for  you," 

"  Oh,  /  can  go  if  you  can,"  said  Nell,  promptly. 

'*  You've  a  good  opinion  of  yourself.  I  guess  I  could  make 
yon  sing  small  if  I  were  to  try." 

"  Then  don't  try,"  said  Nelly,  with  a  laugh. 

"  See,"  continued  Roy,  "  there's  tho  slope ;  you  see  it  is  very 
steep  ;  we'd  go  down  it  like  a  streak  of  greased  lightnin' ;  but  I 
don't  like  to  try  it." 

<<  Why  not  ?  It  seems  easy  enough  to  me.  I'm  sure  we  have 
gone  down  as  steep  places  before  at  home." 

"  Ay,  lass,  but  not  with  a  round-backed  drift  like  that  at  tiie 
bottom.  It  has  got  such  a  curve  that  I  think.it  would  make  us 
fly  right  up  into  the  air." 

Nelly  admitted  that  it  looked  dangerous,  but  suggested  that 
they  might  make  a  trial. 

"  Well,  80  we  will,  but  I'll  go  down  by  myself  first,"  said  Roy, 
arranging  the  sledge  at  the  summit  of  a  slope  which  was  full 
fifty  feet  high. 

"  Now,  then,  pick  np  the  bits  tenderly,  Nell,  if  I'm  knocked  to 
pieces ;  here  goes,  hurrah  1" 

Roy  had  seated  himself  on  the  sledge  with  his  feet  resting  on 
the  head  of  it,  and  holding  on  to  the  side  lines  with  both  hands 
firmly.  He  pushed  off  as  he  cheered,  and  the  next  moment  was 
flying  down  the  hiU  at  railway  speed,  with  a  cloud  of  snow-drift 
rolling  like  steam  behind  him.  He  reached  the  foot,  and  the 
impetus  sent  him  up  and  over  the  snow-drift  or  wave,  and  far 
out  upon  the  surface  of  the  lake.  It  is  true  he  made  one  or  two 
violent  swerves  in  this  wild  descent,  owing  to  inequalities  in  the 
hill,  but  by  a  touch  of  his  hands  in  the  snow  on  either  side,  he 


(, ; 


58 


BILTEB   LAKE. 


gnided  the  sledge,  as  with  a  radder,  and  reached  tho  foot  in 
safety. 

"  May  I  venture,  Roy  ?"  enqairod  Nell,  eagerly,  as  the  lad 
came  panting  up  the  hill. 

"  Ventnro  I  Of  course.  I  rose  off  the  top  o'  the  drift  only 
a  little  bit,  hardly  felt  the  crack  at  all ;  cotne,  get  yon  on  in  front, 
and  I'll  set  at  yur  back  an'  steer." 

Nelly  needed  no  second  bidding.  She  sat  down  and  seized  the 
side  lines  of  the  sledge  with  a  look  of  what  we  may  call  wild 
expectation ;  Boy  sat  down  behind  her. 

"  Now,  lasB,  steady,  and  away  we  go  I" 

At  the  In  >rd  they  shot  from  the  hill-top  like  an  arrow  from 
a  bov  The  >  lOud  of  snow  behind  them  rolled  thicker,  for  the 
sledf^e  was  more  heavily  laden  than  before.  Owing  to  the  same 
cause  it  plunged  into  the  hollow  al  the  foot  of  the  hill  with  greater 
violence,  and  shot  up  the  slope  of  the  Huow-drift  and  over  its  crest 
with  such  force  that  It  sprung  horizon 'ally  forward  for  a  few  feet 
in  the  air,  and  came  to  the  ground  with  a  crash,  that  extracted  a 
lond  gasp  from  Roy,  and  a  sharp  s(|iieak  from  Nelly.  It  was 
found  to  bu  so  delightful,  however,  that  they  tried  it  agiin  and 
again,  each  time  becoming  more  expert,  and  therefore  more 
confident. 

Excessive  confidents,  however,  frequently  engenders  careless- 
ness. Roy  soon  became  imkl ess  ;  Nelly  waxed  fearless.  The  result 
was  that  the  former  steered  somewhat  wild  y,  and  finally  upset. 

Their  last  "  shoosk  "  that  evening  was  undertaken  just  as  the 
son's  latest  rays  were  shooting  between  the  hills  on  the  opposite 
side  of  Silver  Lake,  and  casting  a  crimson  glow  on  the  hut  and 
the  snrronnding  scenery.  Roy  had  fixed  a  snow-shoe  on  the  outer 
ridge  of  the  snow-drift,  to  mark  the  distance  of  their  last  leap  from 
its  crest,  and  had  given  tho  sledge  an  extra  push  on  the  way  down 
to  increase  its  impetus.  This  extra  push  disconcerted  him  in 
steering ;  he  reached  the  hollow  in  a  side-loi ,[  fashion,  shot  up 
the  slope  of  the  drift  waveringly,  and  left  its  rest  with  a  swing 
that  not  only  turned  the  sledge  right  round,  but  also  upside  down. 


led  thn  foot  in 

rly,  as  the  lad 

the  drift  only 
on  on  in  front, 

and  seized  the 
may  call  wild 


an  arrow  from 
thicker,  fur  the 
ing  to  the  same 
hill  with  greater 
ndover  its  crest 
I  fur  a  few  feet 
<hat  extracted  a 
Nelly.  It  was 
pJ  it  again  and 
therefore   more 

mders  careless- 
less.  Theresalt 
finally  upset, 
■iken  jnst  as  the 
on  the  opposite 
on  the  hut  and 
loe  on  the  outer 
r  last  leap  from 
•n  the  way  down 
)acerted  him  in 
ishion,  shot  up 
>st  with  a  swing 
so  upside  down. 


siiooauN 


69 


Of  course  they  were  both  thrown  off,  nnd  all  three  fell  into  the 
snow  in  a  condition  of  dire  confusion.  Fortunately,  no  damage 
was  done  beyond  tho  shock  and  the  fright,  but  this  accident  was 
snffli'  lit  to  calm  their  spirits  and  incline  them  to  go  home  U> 
supper. 

"  Well,  it's  great  fun,  no  doubt,  but  we  must  turn  our  minds 
to  more  earnest  work,  for  our  journey  lies  before  us,"  said  R«iy, 
with  tho  "liivity  of  an  Iroquois  warrior,  :i8  ho  sat  beside  the  fire 
that  night  discussing  a  bear-steak  with  his  sister.  "  We 
hiLve  more  than  enough  of  fish  and  meat,  you  see  ;  a  day  or  two 
Will  do  to  tun  our  dec  and  hear  into  dried  meat ;  the  snow- 
shoca  art?  mended,  the  sledge  is  in  ({ood  order,  as  to  night's  work 
has  proved,  aud  all  that  »> 've  got  to  do  is  to  start  fresh  with  true 
bearin's  and — hey  !  for  home." 

"  I  wish  I  was  there,"  said  Nelly,  laying  down  a  marrow-bone 
with  a  sigh. 

"  Wishin'  ain't  enough,  Nell." 

"  I  know  that,  an'  I'm  ready  to  work,"  said  Nelly,  resuming 
the  bone  with  a  resolute  air.     "  When  shall  we  set  out  ?" 

"  When  we  are  ready,  lass.  We  shull  Segin  tt)  dry  the  meat 
to-morrow,  an'  as  soon  as  it's  fixed — off  we'll  start.  I  only  hope 
the  cold  weather  will  last,  for  if  it  came  warm  it  won  i  go  hard 
with  your  little  feet,  Nell.  But  let's  turn  in  now.  Hard  work 
requires  a  good  sleep,  an'  it  may  be  that  we've  harder  work  than 
we  think  before  us.  ' 


60 
CHAPTER   XIV. 

TUK    JOURNKY    UOHK    BKHUMRD    AUD    INTIRBUPTBD. 

HREE  days  more  and  onr  yoang  frienda 
bade  farewell  to  Silver  Lake. 

Short  though  their  stay  had  been,  it 
had  proved  very  pleaBunt,  for  it  wiis  full 
of  energetic  labonr  and  active  prepara- 
tion, besides  a  groat  deal  of  afamsotnent, 
so  that  quite  a  home  fueliux'  had  been 
aroused  in  their  minds,  aud  their  regret 
at  leaving  was  considerable. 

But  after  the  first  few  miles  of  their  journey  had  been  accom- 
plished, the  feeling  of  sadness  with  which  they  set  out  wore  away, 
and  hopeful  anticipations  of  being  borne  again  in  a  few  weeks 
rendered  them  cheerful,  and  enabled  them  to  proceed  with 
vigour.  The  weather  at  starting  was  fine,  too,  so  that  the  night 
encampments  in  the  snow  were  comparatively  agreeable,  and  the 
progress  made  during  the  first  few  days  w;i8  satisfactory. 

After  this,  however,  the  good  fortune  of  our  adventurers 
seemed  to  desert  them.  First  of  all  one  of  Nelly's  snow-shoes 
broke  down.  This  necessitated  a  bait  of  half  a  day,  in  order  to 
have  it  repaired.  Then  one  of  Roy's  snow-shoes  gave  way, 
which  caused  another  halt.  After  this  a  heavy  snow-storm  set 
in,  rendering  the  walking  very  difficult,  as  they  snnk,  snow-shoes 
and  all,  nearly  to  the  knees  at  each  step.  A  storm  of  wind  which 
arose  about  the  same  time,  f^ffsctually  stopped  their  farther 
advance,  and  obliged  them  to  take  to  the  shelter  of  a  dense  part 
of  the  woods  and  encamp. 

During  three  days  and  three  nights  the  hurricane  raged,  and 
the  snow  was  blown  up  in  tlie  air  and  whirled  about  like  the  foam 
of  the  roaring  sea ;  but  our  wanderers  did  not  feel  its  effects 
much,  for  they  had  chosen  a  very  sheltered  spot  at  the  foot  of  a 
large  pine,  which  grew  in  a  hollow,  where  a  cliff  on  one  side  and  a 


IBUPTBO. 

|ar  yoang  frienda 
ake. 

tay  had  been,  it 
it,  for  it  wii8  Tull 
active  preparu- 
al  of  alunHoinent, 
Foeliii^r  had  been 
,  aud  their  regret 

had  been  accom- 
lot  out  wore  away, 
n  in  a  few  weeks 

to   proceed   with 

80  that  the  night 
greeable,  and  the 
gfaotory. 

our  adventurers 
ally's  snow-shoes 
a  day,  in  order  to 
shoes  gave  way, 
ry  snow-storm  set 

s(\nk,  snow-shoes 
>rm  of  wind  which 
ted  their  farther 
3r  of  a  dense  part 

Ticane  raged,  and 
bout  like  the  foam 
tot  feel  its  effects 
at  at  the  foot  of  a 
on  one  side  and  a 


THB    JOURNKY    HOMI    BBSCMID   AND    INTBRKtlPTRD. 


61 


bluff  of  wood  on  the  other  rendered  the  blast  powerlests.  Its  finrce 
hcwling  could  be  heard,  however,  if  not  folt ;  and  as  the  brother 
and  sister  lay  at  the  bottom  of  their  hole  in  the  snow,  with  their 
toes  to  the  comfortable  fire,  thoy  chatted  much  more  cheerily  than 
might  have  been  expected  in  the  midst  of  Huuh  a  scone,  and  gazed 
upward  from  time  to  time  with  comparative  indifference  at  the 
dark  clouds  and  snow-drifts  that  were  rushing  madly  overhead. 

On  the  fourth  day  the  giile  subsided  almost  as  quickly  as  it  had 
arisen,  aud  Roy  announced  that  it  was  his  intention  to  start.  In 
a  few  minutes  everything  was  packed  up  and  ready. 

"  I  say,  Noll,"  said  Hoy,  just  as  they  were  about  to  leave  the 
camp,  *'  don't  the  sled  look  smaller  than  it  used  to  ?" 

"  Bo  it  does,  Roy  ;  but  I  suppose  it's  because  we  have  eaten  so 
much  during  the  last  three  days." 

Roy  shook  his  head,  and  looked  carefully  round  the  hole  they 
were  about  to  quit. 

"  Don't  knokv,  lass ;  it  seems  to  me  as  if  somothin'  was 
awantin*.     Did  ye  pack  your  own  handle  very  tight  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  I  think  I  did  it  tighter  than  usual,  but  I'm  not  very 
sure." 

"  Hum — that's  it,  no  doubt — we've  packed  the  sled  tighter  and 
eaten  it  down.     Well,  let's  off  now." 

Bo  saying,  Roy  threw  the  lines  of  the  sledge  over  his  shoulder 
and  led  the  way,  followed  by  his  sister,  whose  only  burden  was  a 
light  blanket,  fastened  as  a  bundle  to  her  shoulders,  and  a  small 
tin  can,  which  hung  at  her  belt. 

The  country  through  which  they  passed  that  day  was  almost 
destitute  of  wood,  being  a  series  of  undulating  plains,  with  clumps 
of  willows  and  stunted  trees  scattered  over  it  like  islets  in  the 
sea.  The  land  lay  in  a  sucoession  of  ridges,  or  steppes,  which 
descended  from  the  elerated  region  they  were  leaving,  and  many 
parts  of  these  ridges  terminated  abruptly  in  sheer  precipices  from 
forty  to  siity  feet  high. 

The  sua  shone  with  dazzling  brilliancy,  insomuch  that  the 
travelleru'  eyes  became  slightly  affected  by  snow-blindness.    This 


C2 


8ILVBB  LAKB. 


temporary  blindcess  Ib  very  common  in  these  regions,  and  ranges 
from  the  point  of  slight  dazzlement  to  that  of  total  blindness  ; 
fortunately  it  is  curable  by  the  removal  of  the  cause — the  bright 
light  of  the  sun  on  pure  snow.  Esquimaux  use  "goggles"  or 
spectacles  made  of  wood,  with  a  narrow  slit  in  them,  as  a  pre- 
ventive of  snow  blindness. 

At  first  neither  Boy  nor  Nelly  felt  much  inconvenience,  but  to- 
wards evening  they  could  not  see  as  distinctly  as  usual.  One 
consequence  of  this  was,  that  they  approached  a  precipice  without 
seeing  it.  The  snow  on  its  crest  was  so  like  to  the  plain  of  snow 
extending  far  below,  that  it  might  have  deceived  one  whose  eye- 
sight was  not  in  any  degree  impaired. 

The  first  intimation  they  had  of  their  danger  was  the  giving  way 
of  the  snow  that  projected  over  the  edge  of  the  precipice.  Boy 
fell  over  headlong,  draggmg  the  sledge  with  him.  Nelly,  who  was 
a  few  feet  behind  him,  stood  on  the  extreme  edge  of  the  precipice, 
with  the  points  of  her  snow-shoes  projecting  over  it.  Boy  uttered 
a  cry  as  he  fell,  and  his  sister  stopped  short  A  shock  of  terror 
blanched  her  cheek  and  caitsed  her  heart  to  stand  still.  She 
could  not  move  or  cry  for  a  few  seconds,  thon  she  uttered  a  loud 
shriek  and  shrank  backwards. 

There  chanced  to  be  a  stout  bush  or  tree  growing  on  the  &ce 
of  the  cliff,  not  ten  feet  below  the  spot  where  the  snow  wreath  had 
broken  off.  Boy  caught  at  this  convulsively  and  held  on.  For- 
tunately the  line  on  his  shoulder  broke,  and  the  s'edge  fell  into 
the  abyss  below.  Had  this  not  happened  it  is  probable  th»t  he 
would  have  been  dragged  from  his  hold  of  the  bush.  As  it  was , 
he  maintained  his  hold,  and  huug  for  a  few  seconds  suspended  ia 
the  air.  Nelly's  shriek  revived  him  from  the  gush  of  deadly  terror 
that  seized  him  when  he  fell.  He  grasped  the  bonc^hs  above  him, 
md  was  quickly  in  a  position  of  comparative  security  among  the 
branches  of  the  bush. 

"  All  right,  Nell,"  he  gasped,  on  hearing  her  repeat  her  cry  of 
despair.  *'  I'm  holdin'  on  quite  safe.  Keep  back  from  the  edge, 
lass — there's  no  fear  o'  me." 


MIMto 


igions,  and  ranges 
f  total  blindness ; 
iaose — the  bright 
186  "  goggles  "  or 
in  them,  as  a  pre- 

nvenience,  but  to- 
ly  as  nsnal.     One 
a  precipice  without 
)  the  plain  of  snow 
ed  one  whose  eye- 
was  the  giving  way 
He  precipice.     Boy 
Nelly,  who  was 
[ge  of  the  precipice, 
er  it.     Boy  uttered 
A  shock  of  terror 
)  stand  still.     She 
1  she  uttered  a  loud 

[rowing  on  the  face 
le  snow  wreath  had 
ind  held  on.  For- 
le  sledge  fell  into 
is  probable  th»t  he 
)  bush.  As  it  was , 
conds  suspended  ij 
ish  of  deadly  terror 
boughs  above  him, 
security  among  the 

)r  repeat  her  cry  of 
lack  from  the  edge, 


THB   J0T7RNET  HOME    BBSUHBD  AND   INTBBBDPTEO. 


68 


"  Are  you  sure,  Roy  ?"  cried  Nelly,  trembling  very  much,  as 
she  stretched  forward  to  try  to  catch  sight  of  hor  brother. 

"  Ay,  quite  sure;  but  I  can't  get  up,  for  there's  six  feet  o* 
smooth  rock  above  me,  an'  nothin'  to  climb  up  by." 

"  Oh  I  what  shaU  I  do  !"  cried  Nelly. 

"Don't  get  flurried-  ii'iat's  the  main  thing,  lass.  Let  me  think 
—ay,  that's  it— you've  got  your  belt  ?" 

"  Well,  take  it  off  aud  drop  the  end  over  to  me,  but  He  down  on 
your  breast  and  be  careful." 

Nelly  obeyed,  and  in  a  few  seconds  the  end  of  the  worsted  belt 
that  usually  encircled  her  waist  was  dangling  almost  within  reach 
of  her  brother.  Tliis  belt  was  above  five  feet  long.  Roy  wore 
one  of  similar  material  and  length.  He  untied  it,  and  then  sought 
to  lay  hold  of  the  other.  With  some  difficulty  and  much  risk  of 
falling  he  succeeded,  and  fastened  his  own  belt  to  it  firmly. 

"  Now,  Nell,  haul  up  a  little  bit — hold  I  enough." 

"  What  am  I  to  do  now  ? '  asked  Nell,  piteously ;  "  I  cannot 
pull  you  up,  you  know." 

.  "  Of  course  not ;  but  take  jour  snow-shoe  and  dig  down  to  the 
rocks— you'll  find  eomethin',  I  dare  say,  to  tie  the  belts  to. 
Cheer  up,  lass,  and  go  at  it." 

Thus  encouraged  the  active  little  girl  soon  cleared  away  the 
snow  until  she  reached  the  ground,  where  she  found  several  roots 
of  shrubs  that  seemeJ  quite  strong  enough  for  her  purpose.  To 
one  of  these  she  tied  the  end  of  her  belt,  and  Roy,  being  an 
athletic  lad,  hauled  himself  up,  hand  over  hand,  until  he  gained 
a  place  of  safety. 

♦'  But  the  sledge  is  gone,"  cried  Nelly,  pausing  suddenly  in  the 
midst  of  her  congratulations. 

"Ay,  and  the  grub,"  said  Boy,  with  a  blank  look. 

This  was  indeed  too  true,  and  on  examination  it  was  found 
that  things  were  even  worse  than  had  been  anticipated,  for  the 
sledge  had  fallen  on  a  ledge,  half  way  down  the  precipice,  that  was 
absoiutely  inaccessible  either  from  above  or  below.    An  hour  was 


64 


BILVEB    LA&E. 


spent  in  ascertaining  this,  beyond  all  doubt,  and  then  Roy  deter- 
mined to  return  at  onoa  to  their  last  encampment  to  gather  the 
scraps  they  had  thrown  away  or  left  behind  as  useless. 

That  night  they  went  supperless  to  rest.  Next  morning,  they 
set  out  with  heavy  hearts  for  tho  encampment  of  the  previous  day. 
On  reaching  it,  and  searching  carefully,  they  found  that  one  of  the 
bundles  of  dry  meat  had  been  forgotten.  This  accounted  for  the 
liglitness  of  the  sledge,  and,  at  the  same  time,  revived  their  droop- 
ing spirits. 

•'  What  is  to  be  done  now  ?"  enquired  Nelly. 

"  Return  to  Silver  Lake,"  said  Roy,  promptly.  We  must  go 
back,  fish  and  hunt  again  until  we  have  another  supply  o'  grub, 
and  then  begin  our  journey  once  more." 

Sadly  and  slowly  they  retraced  thoir  steps.  Do  what  he  would 
Roy  could  not  cheer  up  his  sister's  spirits.  She  fell  that  her  back 
was  turned  towards  her  father's  house — her  mother  j  home — and 
every  step  took  her  farther  from  it. 

It  was  a  lovely  evening,  about  sunset,  when  they  reached 
Silver  Lake,  and  found  the  hut  as  they  had  left  it,  and  enr  ugh  of 
old  scraps  of  provisions  to  afford  a  sufficient  meal. 

That  night  tV  -'  ate  their  supper  in  a  more  cheerful  frame  of 
mind.  Next  day  they  breakfasted  almost  with  a  feeling  of  heart- 
iness, and  when  they  went  out  to  resume  their  fishing,  and  to  set 
snares  and  make  traps,  the  old  feeling  of  hopefulness  returned. 
Ere  long,  hope  became  again  so  strong  in  their  ardent  young 
hearts,  that  they  laughed  and  talked  and  sported  as  they  had 
done  duifing  the  period  of  their  first  residence  there. 

At  firsit  they  were  so  anxious  to  make  up  the  lost  quantity  of 
food  that  they  did  little  else  but  fish,  hunt,  and  dry  their  pro- 
visions when  obtained ;  but  after  a  few  days  they  had  procured 
such  an  ample  supply  that  they  took  to  shoosking  again — having 
succeeded  in  mak^''^,  a  now  sledge.  But  a  thaw  cama  suddenly 
and  spoiled  all  their  fish.  A  wolf  carried  off  the  greater  part  of 
their  dried  meat  one  day  while  they  were  absent  from  the  hut. 
After  this  the  frost  set  in  with  extreme  violence,  game  became 


sa 


wmm 


then  Roy  deter- 
lent  to  gather  the 


ext  morning,  they 
F  the  previoas  day. 
md  that  one  of  the 
accounted  for  the 
evived  their  droop- 


)tly.  We  must  go 
)r  supply  o'  grub, 

Do  what  he  would 
le  fell  that  her  back 
lother  J  home — and 

when  they  re'iched 

ift  it,  and  enr  ugh  of 

meal. 

3  cheerful  frame  of 

\x  a  feeling  of  heart- 

r  fishing,  and  to  set 

pefulneas  returned. 

their  ardent  young 
ported  as  they  had 
there. 

the  lost  quantity  of 
;,  and  dry  their  pro- 
i  they  bad  procured 
iking  again — having 
:haw  camd  suddenly 

the  greater  part  of 
Eibsent  from  the  hut. 
ience,  game  became 


■^"^ 


THX   HA8BA0BB. 


66 


more  scarce,  and  fish  did  not  take  the  bait  so  readily,  so  that, 
although  they  procured  more  than  enough  for  present  consump- 
tion, they  were  slow  in  accumulating  a  travelling  store  ;  and  thus 
it  came  to  pass  that  November  found  Hoy  and  Nelly  still  toiling 
wearily,  yet  hopefully,  on  the  shores  of  Silver  Lako. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    HASSACBB. 

'  E  must  return  now  to  Bobin  Gore  and  his 
wife,  who,  on  the  morning  on  which  we 
reintroduce  them  to  the  reader,  were 
standing  in  the  trading  store  of  Fort 
Enterprise  conversing  earnestly  with  Black 
Swan,  the  Indian,  who  has  been  already 
mentioned  at  the  beginning  of  our  tale. 
The  wife  of  the  latter — the  White  Swan — 
was  busily  engaged  in  counting  over  the  pack  of  furs  that  lay  open 
on  the  counter,  absorbed,  apparently,  in  an  abstruse  calculation 
as  to  how  many  yards  of  cloth  and  strings  of  beads  they  would 
purchase. 

•'  Well,  I'm  glad  that's  fixed,  anyhow,"  said  Robin  to  his  wife, 
as  he  turned  to  the  Indian  with  a  satisfied  air,  and  addressed  him 
in  his  native  tongue,  "  It's  a  bargain,  then,  that  you  an'  Slugs  go 
with  me  on  this  expedition,  is  t  ao  ?" 

•'  The  Black  Swan  is  ready,"  replied  the  Indian,  quietly,  "  and 
he  thinks  that  Slugs  will  go  too — but  the  white  hunter  is  self- 
willed  ;  he  has  a  mouth — ask  himself." 

"  Ay,  ye  don't  like  to  answer  for  him,"  said  Robin,  with  a  smile ; 
"  assuredly  Slugs  has  his  own  notions,  and  holds  to  'em  ;  but  I'll 
ask  him.  He  is  to  be  here  this  night,  with  a  deer,  I  hope,  for 
there  are  many  months  to  fill." 

Black  Swan,  who  was  a  tall,  taciturn,  and  powerful  Indian,  here 
glanced  at  his  wife,  who  was,  like  most  Indian  women,  a  hnmble- 


lOP-" 


66 


SILVER  LASX. 


looki  eg  and  not  very  pretty  or  clean  creature.  Taming  again  to 
Bobiu  he  said,  in  a  low,  soft  voice  : — 

"  The  White  Swan  is  not  strong,  and  she  is  not  used  to  be 
alone." 

"  I  understand  yon,"  said  Robin,  "  she  shall  come  to  the  Fort, 
and  be  looked  after.  You  won't  object  to  take  her  in,  Molly, 
when  we're  away  ?  " 

"  Object,  Robin,"  said  Molly,  with  a  smile,  which  was  accom- 
panied by  a  sigh,  "  I'll  only  be  too  glad  to  have  her  company." 

'■  Well,  then,  that's  settled ;  and  now.  Black  Swan,  I  may  as 
well  tell  yon  what  coorse  I  mean  to  follow  ont  in  this  sarch  for 
my  child'n.  You  know  already  that  four  white  men — strangers — 
have  come  to  the  Fort,  an'  are  now  smokin'  their  pipes  in  the  hall, 
but  you  don't  know  that  one  on  'em  is  my  own  brother  Jefferson  ; 
Jeff  I've  bin  used  to  caU  him.  Jeff's  bin  a  harem-scarem  feller 
all  his  life — active  and  able  enough,  an'  good  natur'd  too,  but  he 
never  could  stick  to  nothin',  an'  so  he's  bin  wanderin'  about  the 
world  till  grey  hairs  have  begun  to  show  on  him,  without  gettin' 
a  home  or  a  wife.  The  last  thing  he  tried  was  stokin'  a  steam- 
boat on  the  Mississippi ;  but  the  boat  blew  up,  pitched  a  lot  o'  the 
passengers  into  the  water,  an'  the  rest  o'  them  into  the  next 
world.  Jeff  was  always  in  luck  with  his  life  ;  he's  lost  everythin' 
over  I  an'  over  again  but  that.  He  was  one  o'  the  lot  as  was 
blowed  into  the  water,  so  when  he  come  up  he  swamed  ashore, 
an'  come  straight  away  here  to  visit  me,  bringin'  three  o'  the 
blGwed-up  passengers  with  him.  The  three  are  somethin'  like 
himself,  good  for  nothin' ;  an'  I'd  rather  have  their  room  than 
their  company  at  most  times.  Hows'ever,  just  at  this  time  I'm 
vei7  glad  they've  come,  for  I'll  leave  them  in  charge  o'  the  Fort, 
and  set  off  to  look  for  the  child'n  in  two  days  from  this.  I'll  take 
Walter  and  Larry  wi'  me,  for  brother  Jeff  is  able  enough  U, 
manage  the  trade  if  red-skins  come ;  he  can  fight  too,  if  need 
be.  The  Gore  family  could  always  do  that,  so  you  needn't 
be  afraid,  Molly." 

•'  I'll  not  be  afraid,  Robin,  but  I'll  be  anxious  about  ye." 


:''i* 


■.,^<M-Mi^''&)*- 


mmmamm 


['nrniiig  again  to 

is  not  need  to  be 

come  to  the  Fort, 
ike  her  in,  Molly, 

vhich  was  accom- 
9  her  company." 
:k  Swan,  I  may  as 

in  this  sarch  for 
men — strangers — 
ir  pipes  in  the  hall, 
brother  Jefferson  ; 
^arem-scarem  feller 
nator'd  too,  bnt  he 
randerin'  about  the 
lim,  without  gettin' 
as  stokin'  a  steam- 
pitched  a  lot  o'  the 
hem  into  the  next 
he's  lost  everythin' 

o'  the  lot  as  was 
he  swamed  ashore, 
ingin'  three  o'  the 
are  somethin'  like 
ire  their  room  than 
st  at  this  time  I'm 
charge  o'  the  Fort, 
from  this.     I'll  take 

is  able  enough  U. 
n  fight  too,  if  need 
kt,   BO  yon  needn't 

>us  about  ye." 


.a>». 


«»"l" 


THB   MASSAOBE. 


67 


"  That's  nat'ral,  lass,  but  it  can't  be  helped.  "^  11,  then," 
continued  Robin,  "  the  five  of  us  will  start  for  the  Black  Hills. 
I've  bin  told  by  a  red-skin  who  comed  here  last  week  that  he  an' 
his  tribe  had  had  a  scrimmage  with  Hawk  an'  the  reptilos  that 
follow  him.  He  says  that  there  was  a  white  boy  an'  a  white  girl 
with  Hawk's  party,  an'  from  his  account  of  'em  I'm  sartin  sure  it's 
my  Roy  and  Nelly.  God  help  'em !  '  but,'  says  he,  '  they  made 
their  escape  durin'  the  attack,  an'  we  followed  our  enemies  so 
far  that  wo  didn't  think  it  worth  while  to  return  to  look  for  'em ; ' 
so  I'm  convinced  they  made  for  the  Black  Hills,  nigh  which 
Hawk  was  attacked,  an'  if  we  follow  'em  up  there  we  may  find  'em 
alive  yet,  mayhap." 

Poor  Robin's  voice  became  deeper  and  less  animated  as  he  spoke, 
and  the  last  word  was  uttered  with  hesitation  and  in  a  whisper. 

"  Oh  I  Robin,  Robin,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Gore,  throwing  her  arms 
suddenly  round  her  husband's  neck,  and  hiding  her  sobbing  face 
in  his  breast,  "  d'ye  think  they  can  still  be  alive  ?" 

"  Come,  Molly,"  said  Robin,  commanding  his  feelings  with  a 
great  effort,  "  han't  ye  often  read  to  me  that  wi'  God  all  things  is 
possible  ?" 

The  poor  woman  thanked  God  in  her  heart,  for  up  to  that  day 
Robin  had  never  once  quoted  Scripture  in  his  efforts  to  comfort 
her. 

"  Was  Wapaw  ^s-ith  Hawk  when  they  were  attacked  ?"  enquired 
the  Black  Swan. 

"  Wapaw  is  dnad,"  said  a  deep  voice,  as  the  huge  form  of  a 
western  hunter  dticfkened  the  little  doorway,  and  the  next  moment 
Slugs  strode  into  the  store,  and  quietly  seated  himself  on  the 
counter. 

"  Dead  1"  exclaimed  Pobin,  as  he  shook  the  hunter's  proffered 
hand. 

■'  Ay,  dead  I  Have  ye  no  word  of  welcome  for  a  ohum  after  a 
month's  absence  ?"  said  Slugs,  holding  out  his  homy  hand  to  the 
Black  Swan,  who  gravely  grasped  and  shook  it. 

"  You  red  skins  are  a  queer  lot,"  said  Slugs,  with  a  grin,  "  yer 

F  2 


■saie" 


68 


nLTXB  LAKK. 


as  atiff  as  a  rifle  ramrod  to  look  at,  bat  there's  warm  and  good 
staff  in  'ee  for  all  that." 

<' Bat  what  aboatWapaw?"  enquired  Mrs.  Gore,  anxioasly ; 
<*  sorely  he's  not  dead." 

"  If  he's  not  dead  he's  not  lirm',  for  I  saw  Hawk  himself,  not 
foar  weeks  ago,  shoot  him  and  follow  him  ap  with  his  tomahawk, 
and  then  heard  their  shout  as  they  killed  him.  Where  did  he 
say  he  was  goin'  when  he  left  yoa  ?" 

"  He  said  he  would  go  down  to  the  settlements  to  see  the 
missionariee,  an'  that  he  thought  o'  lookin'  in  on  the  fur  traders 
that  set  up  a  fort  last  year,  fifty  miles  to  the  south'ard  o'  this." 

"  Ay,  just  so,"  said  Slags ;  "  I  was  puzzled  to  know  what  he 
was  doin'  thereaw?\y,  and  that  explains  it.  He's  dead  now,  an' 
BO  are  the  fur  traders  he  went  to  see.  I'll  tell  ye  all  about  it  if 
you'll  give  me  baccy  enough  to  fill  my  pipe.  I  ran  out  o't  three 
days  agone,  on'  ha'  bin  smokin'  tea-leaves  an'  bark,  an'  all  sorts 
o'  trash.     Thank  'ee ;  that's  a  scent  more  sweet  nor  roses." 

As  he  said  this  the  stout  hunter  cut  up  the  piece  of  tobacco  which 
Bobin  at  once  handed  to  him,  and  rolled  it  with  great  zest  between 
his  palms.  When  the  pipe  was  filled  and  properly  lighted,  he 
leaned  his  back  against  an  unopened  hale  of  goods  that  lay  on  the 
counter,  and  drawing  several  whitfs,  begim  his  narrative. 

"  Yon  must  know  that  I  made  tracks  for  the  noo  furtradin'  post 
when  I  left  yon.  Black  Swan,  about  a  month  ago.  I  hadn't  much 
of  a  object ;  it  was  mainly  cooriosity  as  took  me  there.  I  got 
there  all  right,  an'  was  sittin'  in  the  hall  chattin'  wi'  the  head 
man — Macdonell  they  called  him — abont  the  trade  and  the 
Injuns.  Macdonell's  two  little  child'n  was  playin'  about,  a  boy 
an'  a  girl,  as  lively  as  kittens,  an'  his  wife — a  good  lookin'  young 
'ooman — ^was  lookin'  arter  'em,  when  the  door  openu,  and  in 
stalks  a  long-legged  Ii^nn.  It  was  Wapaw.  Down  he  sat  in 
front  o'  the  fireplace,  an'  after  some  palaver  an'  a  pipe — for  your 
Injuns  '11  never  tell  ail  they've  got  to  say  at  once — he  tells  Mac- 
donell that  there  was  a  dark  plot  hatohin'  agin'  him — that  Hawk, 
a  big  rascal  of  his  own  tribe,  had  worked  upon  a  lot  o'  reptiles 


wann  and  good 

Gore,  aozionBly ; 

lawk  himself,  not 
th  his  tomahawk, 
.    Where  did  he 

iments  to  see  the 
>D  the  far  traders 
nth'ard  o'  this." 
1  to  know  what  he 
[e's  dead  now,  an' 
1  ye  all  about  it  if 
1  ran  out  o't  three 
bark,  an'  all  sorts 
et  nor  roses." 
ce  of  tobacco  which 
I  great  zest  between 
iroperly  lighted,  he 
lods  that  lay  on  the 
narrative. 
I  noo  furtradin'  post 
;o.  I  hadn't  mnoh 
me  there.  I  got 
lattia'  wi'  the  head 
he  trade  and  the 
ilayin'  about,  a  boy 
good  lookin'  young 
oor  opens,  and  in 
Down  he  sat  in 
n'  a  pipe — for  your 
nee — he  tells  Mao- 
i'  him — that  Hawk, 
>on  a  lot  o'  reptiles 


s 


'All  (hU  time  the  red-skins  were  yellln'  round  the  huuse  like  Aenit."— Page  _a9. 


I     "I      ^m 


OH 


ends."— i>aff?.6e. 


TBI  MA88A0RI. 


69 


like  hismlf,  an'  they  had  made  ap  their  minda  to  come  an'  m  - 
sacre  everybody  at  the  Fort,  and  carry  off  the  goods. 

"  At  first  Macdonell  didn't  seem  to  believe  the  lujnn,  bit  when 
I  told  him  I  knowed  him,  an'  that  he  was  a  trustworthy  man,  he 
was  much  troubled,  an'  in  doubt  what  to  do.  Now,  it's  qnite 
clear  to  me  that  Hawk  must  have  somehow  found  out  or  suspected 
that  Wapaw  was  goin'  to  'peach  on  him,  an'  that  he  had  followed 
his  trail  close  up ;  for  in  less  than  an  hour  arter  W  paw  arrived, 
an'  while  we  was  yet  sittin'  smokin'  by  the  fire,  there  was  a  most 
tremendous  yell  outside.  I  know'd  it  for  the  war-whoop  o'  the  red- 
skins, so  I  jumped  up  an'  cooked  my  rifle.  The  others  jumped 
up  too,  like  lightnin' ;  an'  Mrs.  Macdonell  she  got  hold  o'  her 
girlie  in  her  arms  an'  was  mnnin'  across  the  hall  to  her  own 
room,  when  the  door  was  knocked  off  its  hinges,  and  fell  flat  on 
the  floor.  Before  it  had  well-nigh  fallen  I  got  sight  o'  somethin' 
an'  let  drive.  The  yell  that  follered  told  me  I  had  spoilt  some- 
body's aim.  A  volley  was  poured  on  us  next  moment,  an'  a  red- 
skin jumped  in,  but  Wapaw's  tomahawk  sent  him  out  again  with 
a  split  skull.  Before  they  could  reload — for  the  stupid  fools  had 
all  fii'ed  together — I  had  the  door  up,  and  a  heavy  table  shoved 
agin  it.  Then  I  turned  round  to  load  agin ;  while  1  was  doin' 
this,  I  observed  poor  Macdonell  on  his  knees  beside  his  wife,  bo  I 
went  to  them  an'  found  that  the  wife  an'  pirl  were  stone  dead — 
both  shot  through  the  heart  with  the  same  ball. 

"  As  soon  as  Macdonell  saw  this  he  rose  up  quirtly,  but  with  ft 
look  on  his  face  sich  as  I  never  see  in  a  man  zcept  when  he 
means  to  stick  at  nothin'.  He  got  hold  of  his  double-barrelled 
gun,  an'  stuck  a  scalpin'  knife  an'  an  axe  in  his  belt. 

"  'Oit  on  my  back.  Tommy,'  says  he  to  his  little  boy,  who  waa 
eiyin'  in  a  comer. 

"  Tommy  got  up  at  once,  an'  jumped  on  his  dad's  back.  All 
this  time  the  red-skins  were  yellin'  round  the  house  like  fiends, 
in  batterin'  the  door,  so  that  it  was  clear  it  couldu't  st-and 
long. 

*'  'Friends,'  said  he,  tumin'  to  me  an'  Wapaw,  an'  a  poor 


::,Wiifc>liiibUi 


70 


ULTXB  UKB. 


terrified  chap  that  was  the  only  one  o'  his  men  as  chanced  to  be 
in  the  hoase  at  the  time,  '  friends,  it's  every  man  for  himself  now; 

I'll  cat  my  way  through  them,  or ,'    He  stopped  short,  an' 

took  hold  o'  his  axe  in  one  hand,  an'  his  gan  in  the  other.  '  Are 
ye  ready  ?'  says  he.  We  threw  forwiurd  onr  rifles  an'  cocked  'em, 
MaodonelT— he  was  a  big,  strong  man — suddenly  npset  the  table ; 
the  savages  dashed  in  the  door  with  sich  force  that  three  or  four  o' 
'em  fell  sprawlin'  on  the  floor.  We  jumped  over  these  before 
they  could  rise,  and  fired  a  volley,  which  sent  three  or  four  o'  the 
reptiles  behind  on  their  backs.  We  got  into  the  bash  without  a 
scratch,  an'  used  our  legs  well  I  can  tell  'ee.  They  fired  a  volley 
after  us,  which  missed  us  all  except  poor  Tommy.  A  ballet 
entered  his  brain,  an'  killed  him  dead.  For  some  time  his  father 
would  not  drop  him,  though  I  told  him  he  was  quite  dead ;  but 
his  weight  kept  him  from  runnin'Cast,  an'  we  heard  the  red-skins 
gainin'  on  us,  so  at  htst  Maodonnell  put  the  boy  down  tenderly 
under  a  bush.  Me  and  Wapaw  stopped  to  fire  an'  keep  the 
reptiles  back,  but  they  fired  on  us,  and  Wapaw  fell.  I  tried  to 
lift  him,  but  he  Etmggled  out  o'  my  arms.  Poor  fellow  ;  he  was 
a  brave  man  ;  and  I've  no  doubt  did  it  a-purpose,  knowin'  that  I 
couldn't  run  fast  enough  with  him.  Juut  then  I  saw  Hawk  come 
jumpin*  and  yellin'  at  us,  followed  hj  two  or  three  dozen  red- 
skins, all  flourishin'  their  tomahawks.  Maodonell  and  me  turned 
to  die  fightin'  alongside  o'  our  red  comrade,  but  Wapaw  suddenly 
sprang  up,  uttered  a  shout  of  defiance,  an'  dashed  into  the  bash. 
The  Injuns  were  after  him  in  a  moment,  and  before  we  could  get 
near  them  a  yell  of  triumph  told  us  that  it  was  too  late,  so  we 
turned  and  bolted  in  different  directions. 

"  I  soon  left  them  behind  me,  but  I  hung  about  the  place  for  a 
day  or  two  to  see  if  Maodonell  should  turn  up,  or  any  of  his  men. 
I  even  went  back  to  the  Fort  after  the  reptiles  had  left  it.  They 
had  burned  it  down,  an'  I  saw  parts  o'  the  limbs  o'  the  poor  wife 
and  child  lyin'  among  the  half-burned  goods  that  they  weren't  able 
to  cany  away  with  them." 


"**• 


as  ohanoed  to  be 

for  himsulf  now ; 

topped  short,  an' 

the  other.     '  Are 

08  an'  cooked  'em, 

y  upset  the  table ; 

>at  three  or  four  o' 

over  these  before 

hree  or  four  o'  the 

he  bush  without  a 

They  fired  a  Tulley 

'ommy.     A  bullet 

tme  time  his  iiftther 

i8  quite  dead  ;  but 

leard  the  red- skins 

boy  down  tenderly 

fire  an'  keep  the 

V  fell.     I  tried  to 

>or  fellow  ;  he  was 

ose,  knowin'  that  I 

I  saw  Hawk  come 

r  three  dozen  red- 

aell  and  me  turned 

it  Wapaw  suddenly 

hed  into  the  bush. 

tefore  we  could  get 

ras  too  late,  so  we 

lOut  the  place  for  a 
[>r  any  of  his  men. 
had  left  it.  They 
bs  o'  the  poor  wife 
it  they  weren't  able 


# 


71 
CHAPTER  XVI. 

TBMOBAMOa. 

'he  terrible  tale  which  was  related  by  Sings 
had  the  effect  of  changing  Robin  Qore's 
plans.  He  resolved  to  pursue  the  mur- 
derers, and  inflict  summary  punishment 
on  them  before  setting  off  on  the  con- 
tempkted  search  for  his  lost  children,  and 
he  was  all  the  more  induced  to  do  this 
that  there  was  some  hope  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  a  cine  to  their  whereabouts  from  some  of  the 
prisoners  whom  he  hoped  to  seiM. 

It  might  be  thoo^t  by  some  a  rash  step  for  him  to  take— the 
porsnit  of  a  band  dt  ahoat  fifty  sayages  with  a  party  of  six  men. 
Bat  badcwood  hunters  were  bold  fellows  in  those  days,  and 
Ifwti^iw  were  by  no  means  noted  for  reckless  conrage.  Six  stout, 
resolute,  and  well-armed  men  were,  in  Robin's  opinion,  quite  a 
match  for  fifty  red-skins  I 

He  could  not  master  more  than  six,  because  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  leave  at  least  three  men  to  guard  Fort  Enterprise. 
Robin  therefore  resolved  to  leave  his  brother  Jeff  to  look  after 
it,  with  two  of  the  strangers ;  and  -Teff  accepted  the  cLargo  with 
pleasure,  saying  he  "  would  defend  the  place  agin  a  hundred  rod 
reptiles."  i?he  third  stranger — a  man  named  Stiff — he  resolved 
to  take  with  him. 

The  war-party,  when  mastered,  consisted  of  Robm  Gore,  his 
nephew  Wdter,  Larry  O'Dowd,  the  Black  Swan,  Glugs  the 
honter,  and  Stiff  the  stranger.  Armed  to  the  teeth,  these  six  put 
on  their  snow-shoes  the  following  morning,  and  set  forth  on  their 
journey  in  silence. 

Now  this  cluuige  of  plans  was — all  unknown  to  Robin — the 
means  of  leading  him  towards,  instead  of  away  from,  his  lost 
little  ones.    For  Boy  and  Nelly  had  travelled  so  &r  daring  their 


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i 


72 


BILTEB   LAKE. 


long  wanderings  ifrom  the  Black  Hills— the  place  where  they 
escaped  from  the  Indians— that  they  were  at  that  tine  many  long 
miles  away  from  them  in  another  direction.  In  fact,  if  Bohin  had 
carried  oat  his  original  plan  of  search,  he  would  have  been  increasing 
the  distance  between  himself  and  his  children  every  step  he  took  ! 

Not  knowing  this,  however,  and  being  under  the  impression 
that  each  day's  march  lessened  his  chance  of  ultimately  finding 
his  lost  ones,  he  walked  along,  mile  after  mile,  and  day  after  day, 
in  stern  silence. 

On  the  third  day  out,  towards  evening,  thb  party  descried  a 
thin  line  of  blue  smolio  rising  above  the  tree-t,opB.  They  had 
reached  an  elevated  and  somewhat  hilly  region,  so  that  the  ground 
fJEivoured  their  approach  by  stealth ;  nevertheless,  fearing  to  lose 
their  prey,  they  resolved  to  wait  till  dark  and  take  their  enemies, 
if  such  they  should  turn  out  to  be,  by  surprise. 

Soon  after  sunset  Robin  gave  the  word  to  advance.  Each  man 
of  the  party  laid  aside  his  blanket,  and  left  his  provisions,  &c.,  in 
the  encampment,  taking  with  him  his  arms  only. 

"  I  need  not  say  that  there  must  be  no  speaking,  and  that  we 
must  tread  lightly.  You're  up  to  red-skm  ways  as  well  as  me, 
except  mayhap  our  friend  Sti£f  here." 

Stiff,  who  was  a  tall  Yankee,  protested  that  he  could  "  chaw 
up  his  tongue,  and  go  as  slick  as  a  feline  mouser." 

On  nearing  the  fire  they  made  a  detour  to  examine  the  tracks 
that  led  to  it,  and  found  from  their  number  and  other  signs  that 
it  was  indeed  Hawk's  party. 

Robin  advanced  alone  to  reconnoitre.     On  returning  he  said  : — 

"  It's  just  the  reptiles  ;  there's  forty  of  'em  if  there's  one,  an' 
they've  got  a  white  man  bound  with  'em  ;  no  doubt  from  what  you 
said  of  him.  Slugs,  it's  Macdonnell  ;  but  I  dou't  see  Wapaw.  I 
fear  me  that  his  days  are  over.  Now  then,  lads,  here's  our  plan  : 
we'll  attack  them  from  six  different  points  at  once.  We'll  all  give 
the  war-  "hoop  at  the  same  moment,  takin'  the  word  from  Walter 
there,  who's  got  a  loud  pipe  of  his  own,  then  when  the  varmints 
start  to  their  feet — for  I  don't  like  the  notion  o'  firin'  at  men  off 


«tth^\ftK''s'''>''^iii^mmi^K^vm!f»J^&»^  tf««iMfeaWj 


■■ifliTrtil 


re  they 
iny  long 
)bin  had 
BreasJDg 
e  took  ! 
pression 
finding 
ler  day, 

scried  a 
dey  had 
I  ground 
;  to  lose 
memies, 

ich  man 
,  &c.,  in 

that  we 
1  as  me, 

"  ehaw 

e  tracks 
gns  that 

said ; — 
one,  an' 
rhat  you 
paw.  I 
ir  plan : 
all  give 
Walter 
'armints 
men  off 


I 


TENOEANOE. 


78 


their  guard — Walter,  Larry,  an'  St^ff  will  fire.  Black  Swan, 
Slugs,  an'  I  will  reserve  our  fire  while  you  reload;  the  reptiles 
will  scatter,  of  course,  an'  we'll  give  'em  a  volley  an'  a  united 
yell  as  they  cut  stick,  that'll  keep  'em  from  waitin'  for  more." 

The  plan  thus  hastily  sketched  wi.s  at  once  carried  out.  Ad- 
vancing stealthily  to  their  several  stations,  the  six  men,  as  it  were, 
surrounded  the  savages,  who,  not  dreaming  of  pursuit,  had  neglected 
tc  place  sentinels  round  the  camp.  When  Walter's  loud  "halloo  I" 
rang  in  their  ears,  the  whole  band  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  seized 
their  arms,  but  three  shots  laid  three  of  them  aead  on  the  ground. 
As  they  fled  right  and  left  the  reseirve  fired,  and  shot  three  others, 
among  whom  wes  Hawk  himself.  Black  Swan  had  picked  him 
out,  and  shot  him  through  the  head.  Before  they  were  quite  out 
of  shot,  the  three  who  had  first  fired  had  reloaded  and  fired  again 
with  some  effect,  for  blood  was  afterwards  observed  on  the  snow. 

Slugs  now  made  a  rush  into  the  camp  to  unbind  Macdonell,  but 
to  his  horror  he  discovered  that  a  knife  was  plugged  up  to  the 
handle  in  his  breast,  and  that  he  was  almost  dead.  Hawk  had 
evidently  committed  this  cowardly  deed  on  the  first  alarm,  for  the 
knife  was  known  to  be  his.  Macdonell  tried  hard  to  speak,  but 
all  that  he  was  able  to  say  was,  "Wapaw,  wounded,  e^tcuped — 
folloNV."     Then  his  head  fell  back,  and  he  died. 

Fj  om  the  few  words  thusuttered,  however,  the  pursuers  concluded 
that  Wapaw  was  not  dead,  but  wounded,  and  that  he  had  escaped. 

"  f  that  be  so,"  said  Walter,  "  then  they  must  have  been  on 
Wapaw's  tracks,  an'  if  we  search  we  shall  find  'em,  an'  may 
follow  'em  up." 

"True,"  said  Slugs,  "and  the  sooner  we're  away  from  this  the 
better,  for  the  reptiles  may  return,  and  find  us  not  so  strong  a 
band  as  they  think." 

Acting  on  this  advice,  the  whole  party  set  off  at  once.  Wapaw's 
track  was  soon  discovered,  being,  of  course,  a  solitary  one,  and  in 
advance  of  his  enemies,  who  were  in  pursuit.  Following  the 
track  with  untiring  vigour,  the  party  found  that  it  led  them  out  of 
the  lower  country  into  a  region  high  up  amongst  the  hills. 


V 


■MMIW. 


'mm 


&, 


■,>.„ 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE    PURSUIT. 

APAW  mnst  have  worked  hard,  for  we 
should  have  overhauled  him  by  this 
time,"  said  Walter  to  his  uncle  on  the 
evening  of  the  next  day,  as  they  plodded 
steadily  along  through  the  snow. 

"  I  woiild  give  up  the  pursuit,"  said 
Robin  somewhat  gloomily,  "  for  it's 
losin'  time  that  might  be  better  spent 
on  another  search,  but  it  won't  do  to  leave  the  crittor,  for  if  he's 
badly  wounded  he  may  die  for  want  o'  help." 

"  GuesB  he)  can't  be  very  bad,  else  he'd  niver  travel  so  fast," 
observed  Stiff,  who,  now  .hat  the  chief  murderer  was  punisht^d, 
did  not  care  much  to  go  in  search  of  the  wounded  Indian. 

"  When  a  man  thinks  a  band  o'  yellin'  red-skins  are  follerin' 
np  ois  trail,"  said  Slugs,  '<  he's  pretty  sure  to  ^'avel  fast, 
wounded  or  not  wounded -leastways  if  he's  able.  Bat  I  don't 
think  we'll  have  to  go  much  farther  now,  for  I've  noticed  that  his 
stride  ain't  so  long  as  it  was,  and  that's  a  sartin  sure  sign  that 
he's  failin' ;  I  only  hope  he  won't  go  under  before  we  find  him." 

"  Niver  a  fear  o'  that,"  said  Larry  O'Dowd,  with  a  grin.  •'  I've 
seed  him  as  far  gone  as  any  one  '  ver  I  corned  across,  wi'  starva- 
tion ;  but  the  way  that  fellow  «ralked  into  the  grub  when  he  got 
the  chance  was  wonderful  to  behold !  I  thought  he'd  ait  roe  out 
o'  the  house  entirely ;  and  he  put  so  much  flesh  on  his  uones  in 
a  week  or  two  that  he  was  able  to  go  about  his  business,  though 
he  wam't  no  fatter  when  he  began  to  ait  than  a  consumptive 
damin'  needle.  True  for  ye — it's  naither  walkin',  starvin',  nor 
cowld,  as'U  kill  Wapaw." 

«  What  does  the  Black  Swan  think  ?"  inquired  Robin. 
"  We  shall  see  Wapaw  when  the  sun  is  lowto-mon-ow,"  replied 
the  Indian. 


jl»giW'^B«'4^l<(ft».'.'ai!!»W' ' 


TBK    PUB8UIT. 


75 


•d,  for  we 

by  this 

ile  on  the 

y  plodded 

)W. 

ait,"  said 
"  for  it's 
ter  spent 
for  if  he's 

1  so  fiwt," 
pnnishod, 
n. 

•e  follerin' 
avel  fiut, 
at  I  don't 
id  thdt  his 
I  sign  that 
id  him." 
in.  "  I've 
iii'  starra- 
en  he  got 
tit  me  oat 
B  uones  in 
9S,  thoagh 
nsamptive 
urvin',  nor 


r,"  replied 


"  Mayhap  we  shall,"  qaoth  Robin,  ''  bat  it  behooves  as  to  get 
the  steam  ap  for  to-morrow :  so,  comrades,  as  there's  a  good 
clump  o'  timber  here  away,  we'll  camp." 

Bobin  throw  down  his  handle  as  he  spoke,  and  his  example 
was  at  once  followed  by  the  others,  each  of  whom  set  to  work 
vigoroasly  to  assist  in  preparing  the  encampment.  '    v 

They  had  all  the  reqaisite  implements  for  this  purpose,  having 
returned,  after  the  attack  on  the  Indians,  for  the  things  they  had 
left  behind  them.  ~  .     *  . 

"  It's  a  pity  that  we  shall  have  to  keep  watch  to-night,"  said 
Walter,  "  one  of  us  will  have  to  do  it  I  fancy,  for  though  I  don't 
believe  these  murderin'  red-skins  have  pluck  to  attack  as,  it  woald 
not  do  to  trust  to  that." 

Slugs,  to  whom  this  remark  was  addressed,  lowered  the  axe 
with  which  he  was  about  to  fell  a  neighbouring  tree  for  fire- 
wood. 

"  Tliat's  true,"  said  he,  looking  round  him  in  all  directions  : 
"  hold  on,  comrades,  yonder's  a  mound  with  a  bare  top,  we'd  better 
camp  there.  Makin'  a  big  blaze  on  sitch  a  place  '11  show  the  red 
reptiles  we  don't  care  a  gunflint  for  them,  and  they'll  not  dare  to 
come  near,  so  we  won't  have  to  watch." 

"  Arrah  !  an'  a  purty  spot  it'll  be  for  the  blackyirds  to  shoot 
us  all  aisy  as  we're  sottin'  at  supper,"  exclaimed  Larry  O'Dowd. 

"  Doubtless  there's  a  hollow  on  it,"  rejoined  Slugs,  "  for  the 
top  is  flat." 

"  Humph  !  maybe,"  growled  Larry,  who  still  seemed  to  object; 
but,  as  the  rest  of  the  party  were  willing  to  adopt  the  suggestion, 
he  said  no  more,  and  they  all  went  to  the  top  of  the  little  mound, 
which  commanded  a  clear  view  of  the  surropiding  country. 

As  Slugs  had  surmisetl,  there  was  a  slight  hollow  on  the 
summit  of  the  mound  which  effectually  screened  the  party  from 
any  one  who  might  wish  to  fire  at  them  from  below,  and  as  there 
was  no  other  mound  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  they  felt 
quite  secure.  Huge  logs  were  cut  and  carried  to  the  top  of  the 
mound,  the  snow  was  cleared  out  of  the  hole,  pine  branches  were 


V 


■IRBSSmw- 


Sm-mm 


^ 


r 


f  -  1^'' 


76  BILVEB   LAKE. 

spread  over  it,  the  fire  was  kindled,  the  kettle  pnt  on  and  filled  with 
snow,  and  soon  Larry  ODowd  was  involved  in  the  heat,  steam, 
smoke,  and  activities  of  preparing  supper,  while  his  comrades 
spread  out  their  blankets  and  lay  down  to  smoke  with  their  arms 
ready  beside  them. 

The  fire  roared  up  into  thn  wintry  sky,  causing  the  mound  to 
resemble  the  cone  or  Cicater  of  a  volcano,  wliich  could  be  seen  for 
miles  round.  Ever  and  anon,  while  supper  was  being  eaten,  the 
Black  Swan  or  Slugs  would  rise,  and  going  stealthily  to  the  edge 
of  the  mound  would  peep  cautiously  over  to  make  sure  that  none 
of  their  enemies  were  approaching. 

Immediately  after  supper,  they  all  Iny  down  to  sleep,  but,  for 
a  time,  e:.ch  motionless  form  that  lay  rolled  tightly  in  its  blanket 
like  an  Egyptian  mummy,  sent  u  series  of  little  puffs  from  its 
head.  At  last  the  stars  came  out,  and  the  pipes  dropped  from 
each  sleeper's  lips.  Then  the  moon  rose— a  circumstance  whilh 
rendered  their  position  still  more  secure — and  the  fire  sank  low. 
But  Slugs  was  too  cautiom  a  hm  ter  to  trust  entirely  to  the 
alleged  cowardice  of  the  savages.  He  knew  well  that  many, 
indeed  most  of  the  red-sk  ns,  i'i..d  as  well  as  good,  had  quite 
enough  of  mere  brute  courage  to  make  them  dare  and  risk  a  good 
deal  for  the  sake  of  scalping  a  white  hunter ;  so  he  rose  once  or 
twice  during  the  night  to  replenish  the  fire  and  take  a  look  round; 
and  as  often  as  he  rose  for  these  purposes,  so  often  did  he  observe 
the  glittering  eye  of  the  Black  wan  glaring  round  the  encamp- 
ment, although  its  owner  never  once  moved  from  his  recumbent 
posture. 

Thus  the  night  was  spent.  The  first  glimmer  of  daylight 
found  the  whole  party  up  and  equipped  for  the  journey. 

They  did  not  breakfast  before  setting  out,  as  they  preferred  to 
take  their  morning  meal  later  in  the  day.  Few  words  were 
spoken.  At  that  early  hour,  and  in  the  sleepy  condition  which 
nsi'ally  results  from  a  very  early  start,  men  are  seldom  inclined 
to  talk.  Only  one  or  two  monosyllables  were  uttered  as  each  man 
rolled  up  his  blanket  with  his  share  of  the  provisions  in  it,  and 


'y.-d-W' 


t':;''„,:^nyi 


illed  with 
steam, 
comrades 
heir  arms 

mound  to 
e  seen  for 
aten,  the 
the  edge 
that  none 

),  but,  for 
ts  blanket 
's  from  its 
pped  from 
mce  whilh 
sank  low. 
oly  to  the 
lat  many, 
had  quite 
isk  a  good 
90  once  or 
tok  round; 
tte  observe 
9  encamp- 
recumbent 

:   daylight 

■eferred  to 
Drds  were 
ion  which 
n  inclined 
each  man 
in  it,  and 


■^ 


"The  Are  roared  up  Into  (he  wintry  sky,  oaiuing  the  moimd  to  resemble  the  cone  or  crater 
ot  a  volceno,  which  could  be  setiu  (or  miles  round.  ^—Pajre  70> 


ifeimaiiiiini,  I II.  1 1 


INTBRBSTINO   THOUOH    PUZZLINO    DISCOVERIES. 


77 


fastened  on  his  snow-shoes.  A  few  minutes  later  R>bin  led  the 
way  down  the  shpe,  and  the  whole  party  marched  off  in  single 
file  and  re-entered  *y>"  ifoods. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

INTERESTINU    THOUOH    PUZZLING  DIB00VEBIE3. 

BOUT  eight  o'clock  they  halted  for  break- 
fast, which  Larry  O'Dowd  prepared  with 
his  accustomed,  celerity,  and  assisted  to 
consume  with  his  wonted  voracity. 

''There's  nothin'  like  aitin'  when  yer 
hungry,"  observed  Larry,  with  his  mouth 
full. 

"  'Xcopt  drinking  when  you're  dry," 
said  Stiff,  ironically. 

•'  Now  I  don't  agree  with  ye,"  retorted  Larry  ;  "  I  used  to  think 
sowance,  before  I  left  the  owld  country— my  blissin'  rest  on  it — 
I  used  to  think  there  was  nothin'  like  drink,  an'  sure  I  was  right, 
for  there  niver  wm  anythin'  like  it  for  turnin'  a  poor  man  into  a 
baste ;  but  when  I  rsomed  into  the  woods  here  I  couldn't  get 
drink  for  love  or  money,  an'  sure  I  found,  after  a  while,  I  didat 
need  it,  and  got  on  better  widont  it,  an'  enjoyed  me  life  more  for 
want  of  it  Musha  I  it's  little  I  care  for  drink  now ;  but,  och  I 
I've  a  mortal  love  for  aitin' !" 

It  needed  not  Lirry's  assurance  to  convince  his  hearers  of  the 
fact,  for  he  consumed  nearly  twice  as  much  dried  meat  as  any  of 
his  comrades. 

'•Well,  if  ye  don't  drink  gin-sling  or  cocktail,"  said  Stiff, 
"  you're  mighty  hard  on  the  tea." 

"  True  for  ye,  Stiff,  it  was  the  favrite  tipple  o'  me  owld  mother, 
an'  I'm  fond  of  it  on  that  score,  not  to  mention  other  raisins  of  a 
private  natur*." 

"  Couldn't  ye  make  these  reasons  public  ?"  said  Walter. 


asaw"--. 


78  8ILTEH    LAKE. 

"  Unpossible,"  said  Larry,  with  much  gravity,  as  he  helped 
himflelf  to  another  can  of  tea. 

"  Come,  time's  up,"  said  Robin  abruptly,  as  he  rose  to  put  on 
his  finow-shoes. 

Larry  Hwallowed  the  tea  at  a  draught,  the  others  rose  promptly, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  more  they  were  again  on  the  march. 

Towards  noon  they  issued  out  of  the  woods  upon  a  wide 
undulating  country,  which  extended,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see, 
to  faint  blue  mountains  in  the  distance.  This  region  was  varied 
in  character  and  exremely  beautiful.  Ihc  undulations  of  the 
land  resembled  in  sor>e  places  the  waves  of  the  sea.  In  other 
places  there  were  clumps  of  trees  like  islets.  Elsewhere  there 
were  hollows  in  which  lakelets  and  ponds  evidently  existed,  but 
the  deep  snow  covered  all  these  with  a  uniform  carpet.  In  some 
parts  the  ground  was  irregular  and  broken  by  miniature  hills, 
where  there  were  numerous  abrupt  and  high  precipices. 

The  party  were  approaching  one  of  the  lat  ,er  in  the  afternoon, 
when  Robin  suddenly  paused  and  pointed  to  a  projecting  ledge 
on  the  face  of  one  of  the  cliffs. 

"  What  wonl''  ye  say  yonder  objic'  was?"  he  enquired  of  Slugs. 

The  hunter  shaded  his  eyes  with  his  hand,  and  remained  silent 
for  a  few  seconds. 

"  It  looks  like  a  sled,"  said  he,  dropping  his  hand,  "  but  how 
it  got  thar'  would  puzzle  even  a  red-skin  to  tell,  for  there's  no 
track  up  to  that  ledge." 

"  It  is  a  sled,"  said  Black  Swan,  curtly, 

"An'  how  came  it  there  ?"  asked  Robin. 

"  It  fell  from  the  top,"  replied  the  Indian. 

"  Right,  lad,  yer  right,"  said  Slugs,  who  had  taken  another 
long  look  at  the  object  in  question ;  "I  see  somethin'  like  a 
broken  tree  near  the  top  o'  the  precipice.  I  hope  Wapaw  baint 
gone  an' tumbled  over  that  cliff."  i      '    '   ?   ' 

This  supposition  was  received  in  silence  and  vnth  grave  looks, 
for  all  felt  that  the  thing  was  not  impossible,  but  the  Indian 
shook  his  head. 


le  helped 

to  pat  on 

promptly, 
h. 

n  a   wide 
could  see, 
ras  varied 
)iiB  of  the 
In  other 

IMTBBEBTINO    THOCOH    PUZZUNO    DI800VEBIEB. 


79 


"  Come,  Black  Swan,"  said  Walter,  "  yon  don't  agree  with 
na — what  think  ye  ?" 

"  Wapaw  had  no  eled  with  him,"  replied  the  Indian. 

"  Right  again,"  cried  Slugs ;  "  I  do  believe  my  sense  is 
forsakin'  me ;  an  Injun  baby  might  have  thought  of  that,  for  his 
trackfl  are  plain  enough.  Hows'ever,  let's  go  see,  for  it's  o'  no 
use  standin'  here  guessin'." 

The  party  at  once  advanced  to  the  foot  of  the  precipice,  and 
for  nearly  an  hour  they  did  their  utmost  to  ascend  to  the  ledge 
on  which  the  sledge  lay,  but  their  efforts  were  in  vain.  The  rock 
was  everywhere  too  steep  and  smooth  to  afford  foot-hold. 

"  It  won't  do,"  said  liarry,  wiping  the  perspiration  from  his 

brow ;  "  av  we  had  wings  we  might ,  but  we  haint  got  'em,  so 

it's  o'  no  manner  o'  use  tryin'."    • 

"  We  shall  try  from  the  top  now,"  oaid  Bobin.  "  If  anybody 
has  tumbled  over,  the  poor  orittur  may  be  alive  yet  for  all  we 
know." 

They  found  their  efforts  to  descend  from  the  top  of  the  preci- 
pice equally  fruitless  and  much  more  dangerous,  and  although 
they  spent  a  long  time  in  the  attempt,  and  taxed  their  wits  to  the 
utmost,  they  were  ultimately  compelled  to  leave  the  place  and 
continue  their  journey  without  attaining  their  object. 

One  discovery  was  made,  however.  It  was  ascertained  by  the 
old  marks  in  the  snow  at  the  edge  of  the  precipice  that,  whatever 
members  of  the  party  who  owned  the  sledge  had  tumbled  over,  at 
least  two  of  them  had  escaped,  for  their  track — faint  and  scarcely 
discernible — was  traced  for  some  distance.  It  was  found,  also, 
that  Wapaw's  track  joined  this  old  one.  The  wounded  Indian 
had  fallen  upon  it  not  far  from  the  precipice,  and,  supposing, 
no  doubt,  that  it  would  lead  him  to  some  encampment,  he  had 
followed  it  up.  Robin  and  his  men  also  followed  it — increasing 
their  speed  as  much  as  possible. 

Night  began  to  descend  again,  but  Wapaw  was  not  overtaken, 
despite  the  Black  Swan's  prophecy.  This,  however,  was  not  so  much 
owing  to  the  miscalculation  of  the  Indian,  ns  to  the  fact  that  a 


80 


HILTKB    LAKK. 


great  deal  of  time  had  been  loat  in  their  futile  endoavonr  to  reach 
the  Hiuilgt)  that  IiikI  fuUon  over  the  precipice. 

About  sunset  thoy  came  to  a  place  whera  the  track  turned 
suddenly  at  a  ri^'ht  angle  and  entered  the  bushes. 

"  lln  !  the  firHt  travellers  must  have  camped  here,  and  Wnpavr 
has  followed  their  example,"  said  Robin,  as  he  pushed  aside  the 
bushes.  "Just  so,  here's  the  place,  but  the  ashest  are  cold,  so 
I  fear  wo  are  not  so  near  our  Iiyun  friend  as  we  could  wish." 

"  Well,  it  can't  be  helped,"  cried  Stiff,  throwing  down  his 
bundle  ;  "  we've  had  plenty  o'  walkiu'  for  one  day,  so  I  vote  for 
supper  right  off." 

"  I  second  the  motion,"  said  Walter,  seizing  his  axe,  "  seein' 
that  the  camp  is  ready  made  to  hand.  Now,  Larry,  got  your  pot 
ready." 

"  Sure  it's  stuffed  full  a'rendy — an'  I  only  wish  I  was  in  the 
same  state,"  said  the  Irishman,  as  he  pressed  the  snow  tightly 
into  a  tin  kettle,  and  hung  it  over  the  fire,  which  Slugs  had  just 
kindled. 

The  supper  scene  of  the  previous  night  was,  in  most  of  its 
details,  enacted  over  again ;  but  it  was  resolved  thut  each  of  the 
party  should  keep  watch  for  an  hour,  as,  if  the  Indians  had 
followed,  there  was  a  possibility  of  their  having  gained  on  them 
during  the  delay  at  the  precipice. 

Before  the  wiitch  was  set,  however,  and  while  all  the  party 
were  enjoying  their  pipes  after  supper,  the  Black  Swan  suddenly 
exclaimed,  "  Ho !"  and  pointed  with  his  finger  to  something 
which  peeped  out  of  the  snow  at  Larry's  elbow,  that  volatile 
individual  having  uncovered  it  during  some  of  his  eosentric 
movements. 

"  It's  only  an  owld  mocassin,"  said  Larry,  plucking  the  object 
from  the  snow  as  he  spoke  ;  "  some  Injun  lad  has  throw'd  it 
away  for  useless." 

"  Hand  it  here,"  said  Bobin,  re-lighting  his  pipe,  which  had 
gone  out 

Larry  tossed  the  mocassin  to  his  leader,  who  eyed  it  carelessly 


^4"'v^^'A*Kait-a'i'ia<fa"A^«aw!>ay 


INTEBKBTINU    THOUGH    PUZZUNO    DISOOVKRIM. 


81 


or  to  reach 

tiok  turned 

,nd  Wiipaw 
d  aside  the 
ire  cold,  so 
wish." 
:  down  hia 
0  I  vote  for 

ifi,  "  Boein' 
at  your  pot 

was  in  the 
mow  tightly 
igs  had  just 

most  of  its 
each  of  the 
[ndians  had 
led  on  them 

11  the  party 
an  suddenly 
)  something 
that  volatile 
[a    ecsentrio 

ig  the  ohjeot 
iS  throw'd  it 

i,  which  had 
it  carelessly 


for  a  moment.  Suddenly  he  started,  and,  turning  the  mocassin 
over,  examined  it  with  close  and  earn-ist  attention.  Then  he 
smiled,  as  if  at  his  passing  anxiety,  and  dropped  it  on  the  ground. 
'•  It  rvmiuded  me,"  said  he  to  Walter,  "  of  my  Nelly,  for  1* 
has  something  of  the  same  shape  that  she  was  fond  of,  an'  for  a 
moment  I  was  foolish  enough  to  think  it  might  ha'  belonged  to 

the  dear  child,  hut .     Gome,  Larry,  have  'ee  got  any  more 

tea  there?" 

"Is  it  tay  ye  want ;  faix,  then,  it's  little  more  nor  laves  that's 
remainin',"  said  Larry,  draining  the  last  drops  into  a  pannikin  ; 
"  well  there's  about  half  a  mugfuU  afthor  all ;  its  wonderful  what 
can  be  got  out  o'  it  sometimes  by  squaazin'  the  pot." 

"  Hand  it  over,  that's  enough,"  said  Itobin,  *'  thank  'ee  lad — 
here's  luck." 

He  drained  the  pannikin  as  though  it  had  been  a  glass  of  rum, 
and,  smacking  his  lips,  proceeded  leisurely  to  r  fill  his  pipe. 

*' Are  ye  sure  ii'»  not  one  of  Nelly's  old  mocassins 'i*"  asked 
Walter,  as  he  eyed  the  little  shoe  earnestly. 

"  Sure  enough,  nephy ;  I  would  know  her  mother's  make 
among  ten  thousand,  an'  although  that  one  is  onconuuonlike  it  in 
some  respecs,  it  aint  one  o'  hers." 

"  But  Nelly  might  have  made  it  herself,"  suggested  Walter, 
"  and  that  would  account  for  its  hein'  like  her  mother's  in  the 
make." 

Robin  shook  hia  head.  "  Not  likely,"'  said  he.  "  The  child 
didn't  use  to  make  mocassins.  I'm  not  sure  if  she  could  do  it 
at  all ;  besides  she  wan  last  heard  of  miles  t  1  miles  away  from 
here  in  another  direction.  No,  no,  Walter  lad,  we  mustn't  let 
foolish  fancies  bother  us.  Hows'ever,  the  sight  o'  this  has  fixed 
me  to  push  on  to-morrow  as  hard  as  I  can  lay  my  legs  to  it,  for 
if  Wapaw's  aUve  we  can't  fail  to  come  up  wi'  him  afore  sundown  ; 
and  I'm  keen  to  turn  about  an'  go  after  my  children.  I'll  push 
on  by  myself  if  ye  don't  care  to  keep  up  wi'  me." 

This  latter  remark  was  made  to  Stiff,  whose  countenance 
indicated  that  he  had  no  desire  to  undertake  a  harder  day's  march 

o 


^ 


.fli 


82 


SILVER    LAKE. 


than  nanal.  The  effect  of  the  remark  was  to  stir  np  all  the 
Yankee's  pride. 

"  I'll  tell  'ee  what  it  is,  Mister  Gore,"  said  he,  tartly,  "you 
may  think  yourself  an  ont^ommon  hard  walker,  but  Obadiah  Stiff 
is  not  the  man  to  cave  in  to  any  white  man  alive.  1  don't  care 
to  go  trampin'  over  the  country  dny  after  day,  like  the  Wanderin' 
Jew,  after  a  red-skin,  as,  I'll  go  bound,  ain't  no  better  than  the 
rest  o'  his  kind  ;  but  if  ye  want  to  see  which  of  our  legs  is  the 
best  pair  o'  compasses,  I'll  walk  with  ye  from  here  to  hereafter, 
I  guess,  or  anywhar  else  ye  choose ;  if  I  don't,  then  my  name 
aint  Stiff." 

"  It  would  be  well  av  it  wom't  Stiff,  for  ye've  no  reason  to  be 
proud  o't,"  observed  Lari-y  O'Dowd,  with  a  grin  ;  "don't  spake 
80  loud,  man,  but  shut  up  yer  potatie  trap  and  go  to  roost. 
Ye'Il  need  it  all  if  ye  wouldn't  like  to  fall  behind  to-morrow. 
There  now,  don't  reply ;  ye've  no  call  to  make  me  yer  father 
confessor,  and  apologize  for  boastin' ;  good  night,  an'  go  to 
slapo  !" 

The  rest  of  the  party,  who  had  lain  down,  laughed  at  this 
sally,  and  Stiff,  on  consideration,  thought  it  best  to  laugh  too. 
In  a  few  minutes  every  one  in  the  encampment  was  sound  asleep, 
with  the  exception  of  Robin  Gore,  who  took  the  first  hour  of 
watching,  and  who  sat  beside  the  sinking  fire  like  a  man  in 
earnest  meditation,  with  his  eyes  resting  dreamily  on  the  worn- 
out  mocassin.  AH 


_CjO 


ir  up  all  the 


artly,  "you 
)badiah  Stiff 
1  don't  care 
18  Wanderin' 
tter  than  the 
ir  legs  is  the 
to  hereafter, 
nen  my  name 

reason  to  be 
"  don't  spake 
go  to  roost, 
d  to-morrow, 
ne  yer  father 
t,  an'  go  to 

ighed  at  this 
to  laugh  too. 
sound  asleep, 
first  hour  of 
ike  a  man  in 
on  the  worn- 


88 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SHOBT   ALLOWANCE,    AND   A   SURPRISE.  - 

NGE  again  we  return  to  Silver  Lake  ;  but 
here  we  do  not  find  affairs  as  we  left 
tiiem.  True,  Roy  and  Nelly  are  still 
there,  the  hut  is  as  snug  as  it  used  to 
be,  and  the  scenery  as  beautiful,  but 
provisions  have  begun  to  fail,  and  an 
expression  of  real  anxiety  clouds  the 
usually  checrfiil  countenance  of  Soy, 
while  reflected  anxiety  sits  on  the  sweet  little  face  of  Nell.  Tha 
winter  is  far  advanced,  and  the  prospect  of  resuming  the  journey 
home  is  farther  off  than  ever. 

One  morning  Roy  entered  the  hut  with  a  slow  step  and  a  sad 
countenance. 

"  Nell,"  said  he,  throwing  down  a  small  fish  which  he  had  just 
caught,  "  things  look  very  bad  now  ;  seems  to  me  that  we'll  starve 
here.  Since  we  broke  the  long  line  I've  only  caught  little  things 
like  that ;  there's  no  rabbits  in  the  snares — I  looked  at  every  one 
this  momin' — and,  as  for  deer,  they  seem  to  have  said  good-bye 
for  the  winter.  I  thought  of  goin'  out  with  the  gun  this  forenoon, 
but  I  think  it  a'nt  o'  no  use,  for  I  was  out  all  yesterday  without 
seeing  a  feather  or  a  L  .of-print." 

The  tone  in  which  Hoy  said  this,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
flung  himself  down  on  the  ground  beside  the  fire,  alarmed  his 
sister  greatly,  so  that  she  scarcely  knew  what  to  say. 

"  Don't  know  >vhat's  to  be  done  at  all,"  continued  Boy,  some- 
what peevishly. 

This  was  so  unlike  himself  that  the  little  girl  felt  a  strong 
tendency  to  burst  into  tears,  but  she  restrained  herself.     After  a 
short  silence  she  said,  somewhat  timidly — 
"Don't,  you  think  we  might  try  to  pray  ?'' 
"What's    the    use,"    said    Roy,   quickly;    "I'm  sure  I've 

a  2 


84 


SILVER   LAKE. 


prayed  oO«n  and  often,  and  bo  have  yon,  bat  nothin's 
come  of  it." 

It  was  quite  evident  that  Roy  was  in  a  state  of  rebellion.  This 
was  the  first  time  Nelly  had  suggested  united  prayer  to  her 
brother ;  she  did  it  timidly,  and  tho  rebuff  caused  her  to  shrink 
within  herselt 

Boy's  quick  eye  observed  the  shrinking  ;  he  repented  instantly, 
and,  drawing  Nelly  to  him,  laid  her  head  on  bis  breast, 

"  Forgive  me,  Nell,  I  shouldn't  have  said  it ;  for,  after  all,  we've 
had  everything  given  to  us  here  that  we  have  needed  up  to  this 
time.     Gome,  I  will  pray  with  yon." 

They  both  got  upon  their  knees  at  once,  bat,  strive  as  he 
might,  not  a  word  would  cross  Roy's  lips  for  several  minutes. 
Nelly  raised  her  bend  and  looked  at  him. 

"  God  help  us  I"  he  ejaculated. 

"  For  Jesus'  sake,"  murmured  Nelly. 

They  both  said  "  Amen  "  to  these  words,  and  these  were  all 
their  prayers. 

Roy's  rebellion  of  heart  was  gone  now,  but  his  feelings  were 
not  yet  calmed.  He  leaped  up,  and,  raising  his  sister,  kissed 
her  ahnost  violently. 

"  Now,  lass,  we  have  prayed,  and  I  do  believe  that  God  will 
answer  us ;  so  I'll  take  my  gun  and  snow-shoes,  an'  off  to  the 
woods  to  look  for  a  deer.  See  that  you  have  a  roarin'  fire  ready 
to  roast  him  three  hours  hence  '° 

Nelly  smiled  through  her  tears  and  said  she  would,  while  Roy 
slipped  his  feet  through  the  lines  of  his  snow-shoes,  threw  his 
powder-horn  and  bullet-pouch  over  his  shoulder,  seized  his  gun, 
and  sallied  forth  with  a  light  step. 

When  he  was  gone,  Nelly  began  actively  to  prepare  for  the 
fulfilment  of  her  promise.  She  took  np  the  axe  which  Roy  had 
left  behind  him,  and  went  into  the  forest  behind  the  hut 
to  cat  firewood.  She  was  very  expert  at  this  laborioas 
work.  Her  blows  were  indeed  light,  for  her  little  arms, 
although    strong    for   their   size,   were   not    strong   for    such 


nothiu's 


ire  for  the 

h  Roy  had 

the    hat 

lahorioaa 

ittle  arms, 

for    such 


BHOET  ALLOWANCE,  AKD  A  SURPRISE. 


86 


labour  ;  but  she  knew  exactly  where  to  hit  and  how  to  hit.  Every 
stroke  fell  on  the  right  spot,  with  the  axe  at  the  right  angle,  so 
that  a  chip  or  two  flew  oflF  every  time.  She  panted  a  good  deal, 
and  grew  nncommonly  warm,  but  she  liked  the  work  ;  her  face 
glowed  and  her  eyes  sparkled,  and  it  was  evident  that  she  was 
not  exhausted  by  it.  In  little  more  than  an  hour  she  had  cut 
enough  of  dried  wood  to  make  a  fire  that  would  have  i  ow^ted  an 
entire  sheep.  Then  she  carried  it  to  the  hut,  after  which  she  sat 
down  to  rest  a  little. 

While  resting,  she  gathered  carefully  together  all  the  scraps  of 
food  in  the  hut,  and  found  that  there  was  still  enough  for  two 
good  meals  ;  so  she  ate  a  small  piece  of  dried  fish,  and  began  to 
wish  that  Roy  would  return.  Suddenly  she  was  startled  by  a 
loud  fiuttering  noise  close  to  the  hut,  and  went  out  to  see  what  it 
could  be. 

It  might  be  supposed  that  a  little  girl  in  such  solitary  and  un- 
protected circumstances  would  have  felt  alarmed,  and  thought  of 
wolves  or  bears ;  but  Nelly  was  too  well  accustomed  to  the 
dangers  and  risks  of  the  backwoods  to  be  much  troubled  with 
mere  fancies.  She  was  well  aware  that  wolves  and  bears,  as  a 
rule,  shun  the  presence  of  human  beings,  and  the  noise  which  she 
had  heard  was  not  of  a  very  alirming  character. 

The  first  sight  that  greeted  her  was  a  large  bird  of  the  grouse 
species,  sitting  on  a  tree  not  three  yards  from  the  hut.  She 
almos'i  felt  that  by  springing  forward  she  could  seize  it  with  her 
hands,  and  her  first  impulse  was  to  throw  the  axe  at  it ;  but, 
checking  herself,  she  went  noiselessly  back  into  the  hut,  and 
quickly  re-issued  with  the  bow  and  a  couple  of  arrows. 

Fitting  an  arrow  to  the  string,  she  whispered  to  herself,  "  Oh, 
how  I  do  hope  I  won't  miss  it  I "  and  took  a  careful  aim.  Anxiety, 
however,  made  her  hand  unsteady,  for,  the  next  moment,  the  arrow 
was  quivering  in  the  stem  of  the  tree  at  least  three  inches  below 
the  bird. 

A  look  of  deep  disappointment  was  mingled  with  an  expresuion 
of  determination  as  she  pursed  her  little  mouth  and  fitted  the 


-fr 


86 


BILVEB    LAKE. 


second  arrow  to  the  string.  This  time  she  diJ  not  take  so 
oarefnl  an  aim,  bat  let  fly  at  once,  and  her  shaft  entered  the 
bird's  throat  and  brought  it  to  the  ground.  With  a  cry  of 
delight  she  sprang  upon  her  prize,  and  bore  it  in  triumph  into 
the  hut,  where  she  speedily  plucked  it.  Then  she  split  it  open, 
and  went  down  to  the  lake  and  washed  it  quite  clean  and  spread 
it  ont  flat.  Her  next  proceeding  was  to  cut  a  short  stick,  about 
two  feet  in  length,  which  she  pointed  at  both  ends,  making  one 
point  thinner  than  the  other.  This  thin  point  she  thrust  through 
the  bird,  and  stuck  it  up  before  the  fire  to  roast,  placing  a  small 
dish,  made  of  birch  bark,  below  it  to  catch  the  dripping. 

"  I  hope  he  won't  come  back  till  its  ready,"  she  muttered,  as 
the  skin  of  the  bird  began  to  browu  and  frizzle,  while  a  delicious 
odour  began  to  fill  the  hut. 

Just  as  the  thought  was  uttered,  a  footstep  was  heard  outside, 
the  covering  of  the  doorway  was  raised,  a  tall  figure  stooped  to 

enter,  and  the  next  instant  a  gaunt  and  half-naked  savage  stood 

before  her. 

Nelly  uttered  a  faint  cry  of  terror,  but  she  was  so  paralised 

that  she  could  make  no  effort  to  escape,  even  had  escape  been 

possible. 

The  appearance  of  the  Indian  was  indeed  calculated  to  strike 

terror  to  a  stouter  heart  than  that  of  poor  Nelly ;  for,  besides 

being  partially  clad  in  torn  garments,  his  eyes  were  sunken  and 

bloodshot,  and  his  whole  person  was  more  or  less  smeared  with 

blood. 
As  the  poor  child  gazed  at  this  apparition    in    horror,   the 

Indian  said  *'  Ho  !"  by  way  of  salutation,  and,  stepping  forward, 

took  her  hand  gently  and  shook  it  after  the  manner  of  the  white 

man.     A  gleam  of  intelligence  and  surprise  at  once  removed  the 

look  of  fear  from  Nelly's  face. 

"  Wapaw  I"  she  exclaimed,  breathlessly. 

"  Hoi"  replied  the  Indian,  with  a  nod  and  a  smile,  as  he  laid 

aside  his  gun  and  snow-shoes,  and  squatted  himself  down  before 

the  fire. 


'  '»^y 


1 


■fj^mi 


nliilnWiBIwi 


BHOBT    ALLOWANCE,    AND   A    SURPRTBB. 


87 


There  was  not  mach  to  be  gathered  from  "hoi"  bat  the  nod 
and  smile  proved  to  Nelly  that  the  intruder  waa  indeed  none  other 
than  her  old  friend  Wapaw. 

Her  alarm  being  now  removed,  she  perceived  that  the  poor 
Indian  was  suffering  both  firom  fatigue  and  wounds— perhaps  from 
hunger  too ;  but  this  latter  idea  was  discarded  when  she  observed 
thet  several  birds,  similar  to  the  one  she  had  just  killed,  hung  at 
the  Indian's  belt.  She  rose  up  quickly,  therefore,  and,  running 
down  to  the  lake,  soon  returned  with  a  can  of  cl''ar  water,  with 
which  she  purposed  bathing  Wapaw's  wounds.  Wapaw  seized  the 
can,  however,  and  emptied  the  contents  down  his  throat,  so  she 
was  constrained  to  go  for  a  second  supply. 

Having  washed  the  wounds,  which  were  chiefly  on  the  head 
and  appeared  to  her  to  be  very  severe,  although,  in  reality,  they 
were  not  so,  she  set  the  roasted  bird  before  him  and  desired  him 
to  eat. 

Of  coarse  she  had  put  a  great  many  questions  to  Wapaw  while 
thas  occupied.  Her  residence  with  the  Indians  had  enabled  her 
to  speak  and  understand  the  Indian  tongue  a  little,  and,  although 
she  had  some  difficulty  in  understanding  much  of  what  Wapaw 
said  in  reply,  she  comprehended  enough  to  let  her  know  that  a 
number  of  white  men  had  been  killed  by  the  savages,  and  that 
Wapaw  was  fleeing  for  his  life. 

On  first  hearing  this  a  deadly  paleness  overspread  her  face,  for 
she  imagined  that  the  white  people  killed  must  be  ber  own 
kindred ;  but  Wapaw  quickly  relieved  her  mind  on  this  point. 

After  this  he  devoted  himself  entirely  to  the  roasted  bird,  and 
Nelly  related  to  him,  as  well  as  she  could,  the  particulars  of  her 
own  and  Boy's  escape  from  the  Indians. 


.r 


V 


"^T- 


CHAPTER   XX. 

HOPE    SURPRIBINO   DISCOVKBIES. 

HILE  they  were  thus  occupied,  a  cry 
was  beard  to  ring  through  the  forest. 
The  Indian  laid  his  hand  on  his  gun, 
raised  his  head,  which  he  turned  to  one 
side  in  a  listening  attitude,  and  sat  as 
still  as  a  dark  statue.  The  only  motion 
that  could  be  detected  in  the  man  was 
a  slight  action  in  his  distended  nostrils 
as  he  breathed  gently. 

This  attitude  was  but  n.omentary,  howeyer,  for  the  cry  was 
repeated  ("  Hi  1  Nelly,  hi  !")  in  clear  silvery  tones,  and  Wapaw 
smiled  as  he  recognised  Roy's  voice,  and  quietly  resumed  his 
former  occupation. 

Nelly  bounded  up  at  once,  and  ran  out  to  tecelvf  !ier  brother, 
and  tell  him  of  the  arrival  of  their  old  friend. 

She  slipped  on  her  snow-shoes,  and  went  oflf  in  the  direction  of 
the  cry.  On  rounding  the  foot  of  a  cliff  she  discovered  Roy, 
standing  as  if  he  had  been  petrified,  with  his  eyes  glaring  at  the 
snow  with  a  mingled  look  of  surprise  and  alarm.  i.v 

Nelly's  step  aroused  him. 

"  Ho !  Nell,"  he  cried,  giving  vent  to  a  deep  sigh  of  relief, 
I'm  thankful  to  see  you — ^but  look  here.  What  snow-shoe  made 
this  track  ?  I  came  on  it  just  this  moment,  and  it  pnlled  me  up 
slick,  I  can  tell  ye." 

Nelly  at  once  removed  Roy's  alarm,  and  increased  his  surprise 
by  telling  him  of  the  new  arrival,  who,  she  said,  was  friendly,  but 
she  did  not  tell  him  that  he  was  an  old  friend. 

"  But  come,  now,  what  have  you  got  for  dinner,  Roy  ?"  said 
Nelly,  with  an  arch  smile,  "for  oh  !  I'm  so  hungry." 

sioy's  countenance  fell,  and  he  looked  like  a  convicted  culprit. 
"  Nell,  I  haven't  got  nothin'  at  all." 


'■TT' 


"*W" 


IfOaS  BUhPRISINa  discoterieb. 


89 


"  What  a  pity !  we  must  just  go  snpperless  to  bed,  I  suppose." 

"  Come,  lass,  I  see  by  the  twinkle  in  your  eye  that  you've  got 
grub  somehow  or  other.  Has  the  redskin  brought  some'at  with 
him?" 

"  Yes,  he  has  brought  a  little ;  but  the  best  fun  is  that  I  shot 
a  bird  myself,  and  had  it  all  ready  beautifully  cooked  for  your 
supper,  when  Wap ." 

"Well,  what  d'ye  mean  by  Wap?"  enquired  Roy,  as  Nelly 
stopped  short. 

•'Nothing.  I  only  meant  to  say  that  the  Indian  arrived 
suddenly  and  ate  it  ali  up." 

"  The  vilkin  I  Well,  I'll  pay  him  off  by  eatin'  up  some  o*  his 
grub.  Did  he  say  what  his  name  was,  or  where  he  came  from  ?" 
enquired  Roy. 

"  Never  mind,  you  can  ask  him  yourself,"  sai-i  Nelly,  as  they 
drew  near  to  the  hut ;  "  he  seems  to  me  to  have  been  badly 
wounded  by  his  enemies." 

They  stooped  and  entered  the  hut  as  Nelly  spoke.  The  Indian 
looked  up  at  her  brother,  and,  uttering  his  wonted  "  Ho  ! "  held 
out  his  hand. 

"Good  luck  to  ye!"  cried  Roy,  grasping  it  and  shaking  it 
with  a  feeling  of  hearty  hospitality.  "  It's  good  to  see  yer  face, 
though  it  is  a  strr.nge  un  ;  but — hallo  I — 1  say— yer  face  aint 
BO  strange,  after  all  I — what!— why,  you're  not  Wap— Wap — 
Wapaw ! " 

The  Indian  displayed  all  his  teeth,  which  were  very  numerous 
and  remai-kably  white,  and  nodded  his  head  gently. 

"  Well  now,  that  beats  everything  I "  cried  Roy,  seizing  the 
Indian's  hand  again  and  shaking  it  violently ;  then,  turning  to 
Nelly,  he  said,  "  Come,  Nell,  stir  yer  stumps  and  pluck  two  o' 
them  birds  :  I'll  split  em,  an'  wash  'em,  an'  roast  'em,  an'  we'll 
all  eat  'em — Wapaw  '11  be  ready  for  more  before  it's  ready  for 
him.  Jump,  now,  an'  see  if  we  don't  have  a  feast  to-night,  if  we 
should  starve  to-morrow.  But  I  say,  Wapaw,  don't  ye  think  the 
redskins  may  be  after  you  yet  ?" 


■V 


-•"T" 


mn^ 


^' 


90 


BILTEB   LAKS. 


The  first  part  of  this  speech  was  attered  in  wild  glee,  bnt  the 
last  sentience  was  spoken  more  eamostly.  as  the  thought  occurred 
to  him  that  Wapaw  might  have  been  closely  pursued,  for  Nelly 
had  told  him  of  the  Indian  having  been  woundud  by  enemies  and 
obliged  to  fly. 

Wapaw  shook  his  head,  and  made  his  young  friend  understand 
as  well  as  he  could  that  there  was  little  chance  of  that,  as  he  had 
travelled  with  the  utmost  speed  in  order  to  distance  his  parsuers, 
and  induce  them  to  give  up  the  chase. 

"  Well,  it  may  be  as  you  say,  friend,"  observed  Roy,  as  he  sat 
down  before  the  fire  and  pulled  off  his  hunting  mocassins  and 
socks,  which  he  replaced  by  lighter  foot-gear  more  suited  to  the 
hut ;  "  but  I  don't  much  like  the  notion  o'  givin'  them  a  chance  to 
come  up  and  cut  all  our  throats  at  once.  It's  not  likely,  however, 
that  they'll  be  here  to-night,  considerin'  the  pace  you  say  you 
oame  at,  so  we'll  make  our  minds  easy,  but  with  your  leave  we'll 
cut  our  sticks  *o-morrow,  an'  mak-  tracks  for  Fort  Enterprise. 
We  han't  got  much  in  the  way  o'  grub  to  start  wi',  it  is  trae,  but 
we  have  enough  at  least  for  two  days'  eatin',  an'  for  the  rest  we 
have  our  guns  and  you  to  be  oar  guide." 

This  plan  was  agreed  to  by  Wapaw,  who  thereupon  advised 
that  they  should  all  lie  down  to  sleep  without  delay.  Roy,  who 
was  fatigued  with  his  day's  exertions,  agreed,  and  in  less  than 
half  an  hour  the  three  were  sound  asleep.  ■  .'r '"       '>' 

Next  morning  they  brose  with  the  sun,  much  refreshed ;  and 
while  Wapaw  and  Nelly  collected  together  and  packed  on  their 
new  sledge  the  few  things  that  they  possessed,  Roy  went  for  the 
last  time  to  cast  his  line  in  Silver  Lake.  He  was  more  fortunate 
than  usual,  and  returned  m  an  hour  with  four  fine  fish  of  about 
six  pounds'  weight  each. 

With  this  acceptable,  though  small,  addition  to  their  slender 
stock  of  provisions,  they  left  the  hut  about  noon,  and  oommenced 
their  journey,  making  a  considerable  detour  in  order  to  avoid 
meeting  with  any  of  the  Indians  who  might  chance  to  have 
contiiiaed  the  pursuit  of  Wapaw. 


.■iy.inj*  -• 


MORE    BURrBIBINO    DI800VKBIES. 


91 


That  samo  evening,  towards  sunHet,  a  party  of  hnntera  marobed 
ont  of  the  woodR,  and  stood  upon  the  shorofl  of  Silver  Lake,  the 
traci<8  about  which  they  began  to  examine  with  particular  interest. 
There  were  six  of  the  party,  five  of  them  being  white  hunters, 
auil  one  an  Indian.  We  n'  '1  scavjely  add  that  they  were  our 
friend  Robin  and  his  corapaniuns. 

"  I  tell  ee  what  it  is,"  cried  Robin,  in  an  excited  tone,  "  that's 
my  Nelly's  fut ;  I'd  know  the  prints  o't  among  a  thousand,  an' 
it's  quite  plain  Roy  is  with  her,  an'  that  Wapaw  has  come  on  'em, 
for  their  tracks  are  clear." 

"  Sure  it  looks  lihe  it,"  observed  Larry  O'Lowd,  scratching 
his  head  as  if  in  perplexity,  *'  but  the  tracks  is  so  mixed  up,  it 
aint  aisy  to  foller  'em." 

"  See,  here's  a  well-beaten  track  goin'  into  the  wood  t "  cried 
Walter,  who  had,  like  his  companions,  been  searching  among  the 
bushes. 

Every  one  followed  Walter,  who  led  the  way  towards  the  hut, 
which  was  finally  discovered  with  ar  thin,  scarcely  perceptible  line 
of  smoke  still  issuing  from  the  chimney.  They  all  stopped  at 
once,  and  held  back  to  allow  Robin  to  advance  alone.  The  poor 
man  went  forward  with  a  beating  heart,  and  stopped  abruptly  at  the 
entrance,  where  he  stood  for  a  few  seconds  as  if  he  were  unable 
to  go  in.  At  length  he  raised  the  curtain  and  looked  in ;  then 
he  entered  quickly. 

"  Gone,  Walter,  they're  gone  !"  he  cried  ;  "  come  in,  lad,  and 
see.  Here's  evidence  o'  my  dear  children  everywhere.  It's 
plain,  too,  that  they  have  left  only  a  few  hours  agone." 

"  True  for  ye,  the  fire's  hot,"  said  Larry,  lighting  bis  pipe 
from  the  emberp  in  testimony  of  the  truth  of  his  assertion. 

"  They  can'i  be  far  otf,"  said  Slugs,  who  was  examining  every 
relio  of  the  absent  ones  with  the  most  minute  care.  "  The  less 
time  we  lose  in  follerin'  of  'em  the  better — what  think  ye,  lad  ?" 
The  Black  Swan  nodded  his  approval  of  the  sentiment. 

"  What  I  without  sleep  or  supper  ?"  cried  Stiff,  whose  euthu- 
siasm  in  the  chase  had  long  ago  evaporated. 


HILVEX    LAKK. 


Let  those  stop  here 


"  Ay,"  said  Rohin,  sternly,  "  /  start  now. 
who  will." 

To  do  Stiff  jnstiofi,  his  objections  were  never  pressed  home,  so 
he  c-  'Ported  himself  with  a  quid  of  tobacco,  and  accompanied 
Robin  d  his  men  with  dogged  resolntion  when  they  left  the  hut. 
Plungiiig  once  more  into  the  forest  they  followed  up  the  track  all 
night,  as  they  had  already  followed  it  np  all  day. 


m 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

A    »LAD80ME    HEETINO. 

'  OME  hours  before  dawn  Robin  Gore  came 
to  an  abrupt  pause,  and  looking  aver  his 
shoulder,  held  up  his  hand  to  command 
silence.  Then  be  pointed  to  a  small 
mound,  on  the  top  of  which  a  faint  glow 
of  light  was  seen  falling  on  the  bonghs  of 
the  shrubs  with  which  it  was  crowned. 
The  moon  had  juHt  set,  but  there  was 
sufficient  light  left  to  render  surrounding  objects  pretty  distinct. 

•«  That's  them,"  said  Robin  to  Walter,  in  a  low  whisper,  as  the 
latter  came  close  to  his  side ;  no  doubt  they're  sound  asleep, 
an  I'm  puzzled  how  to  wake  'em  up  without  givin'  'em  a  fright." 

"  Musha  I  it's  a  fright  that  Wapaw  will  give  us,  av  we  start 
him  suddenly,  for  he's  martJierin'  quick  wi'  his  rifle,"  whispered 
Larry. 

"  We'd  better  hido  and  then  give  a  howl,"  suggested  Stifif,  •'  an', 
after  they're  sot  up,  bring  'em  dowu  with  a  farmiliar  hail." 

The  deliberations  of  the  party  were  cut  short  and  rendered  un- 
necessary, however,  by  Wapaw  himself.  That  sharp-eared  red- 
man  had  been  startled  by  the  breaking  of  a  branch  which  Larry 
O'Dowd  chanced  to  set  his  foot  on,  and,  before  Robin  had  observed 
their  fire,  he  had  roused  Roy  and  Nelly  and  hurried  with  them  to 
the  summit  of  a  rocky  eminence,  from  which  stronghold  they  now 
anxiously  watched  the  proceedings  of  the  hunters.     The  spot  to 


~-*v 


r, 


mmamiaim>tsiMmMnmmm9JimmmiiiMi«MiiHir 


A    OLADHUMK    MKETINU. 


08 


pinoiit."^/'njcO», 


which  they  had  flod  for  refuge  was  almost  impregnable,  and  migh'. 
have  been  held  for  hours  by  a  ooaplo  of  resolute  men  against  l 
host  of  savages. 

Robin,  after  a  little  further  consultation,  resolved  to  send  the 
Black  Swan  in  advon'--  '.^  leoonnoitro.  This  he  did,  contrary  to 
his  wonted  custum  of  taking  the  lead  ia  ovorything,  because  of  an 
unaccountable  feeling  of  dread  lost  ho  should  not  find  his  children 
there. 

Black  Swan  at  onco  stepped  cautiously  forward  with  his  rifle, 
ready  cooked,  in  the  holh  w  of  his  loft  iirin,  nnd  h):i  Tiugtir  on  the 
trigger-guard.  Step  by  step  ho  moved  towards  the  eucunipmeut 
without  making  the  slightest  noise,  and  with  so  lltle  motion  that 
he  might  easily  have  been  mistaken  for  a  dark  shadow.  Raising 
his  head  over  the  edge  of  the  tncamptuent  he  gazed  earnestly  into 
it,  then  he  advanced  another  pace  or  two,  Hually  he  stepped  into 
it,  and,  spending  erect,  looked  around  him.  With  a  wave  of  hid 
band  he  samnioned  his  comrades  to  advance.  Robin  Gore's  heart 
beat  hard  as  he  approached,  followed  by  the  others. 

Meanwhile  they  were  closely  watched  by  Roy  and  Wapaw. 
When  the  Black  Swan's  head  appeared,  Roy  exclaimed  in  a 
whisper,  "  An  Injun — d'ye  know  him,  Wapaw  ?" 

"  He  is  one  of  our  tribe  I  think,"  replied  the  Indian,  in  the  same 
low  voice,  "  but  I  know  him  not ;  the  light  of  the  fire  is  not  strong." 

**  If  he's  one  o'  your  tribe,"  said  Roy,  "  it's  all  up  with  us,  for 
they  won't  be  long  o'  findin'  us  here.  Keep  close  to  me,  Nell. 
I'll  stick  by  you,  lass,  don't  fear." 

Wapaw's  brows  lowered  when  he  saw  the  Black  Swan  stop  into 
the  encampment,  and  make  the  signal  to  his  comrades  to  advance. 
He  raised  his  rifle  and  took  deliberate  aim  at  his  heart. 

"  Roy,"  he  whispered,  "  get  an  arrow  ready,  aim  at  the  next 
man  that  steps  into  the  light  and  let  fly ;  I'll  not  fire  till  after  yon. 
for  the  smoke  would  blind  yon." 

Roy  obeyed  with  a  trembling  hand.  Notwithstanding  the  rough 
life  he  had  led  in  those  wild  woods  of  the  West,  he  had  never  yet 
been  called  on  to  lift  his  hand  against  a  human  being,  and  the 


^-'^y- 


■^•»- 


MMMH*~> 


94 


SILVER   LAKB. 


thought  of  taking  life  in  this  delibei^tr  and  almost  mnrderons  way 
caused  him  to  shudder ;  still  he  felt  that  their  case  was  desperate, 
and  he  nerved  himself  to  the  deed. 

Another  moment  and  Robin  stood  beside  the  Black  Swan.  Boy 
tried  to  raise  his  bow,  but  his  heart  failed  him.  Wapaw  glanced 
at  him  and  said  sternly — 

"  Shoot  hrst."  • . 

At  that  moment  Obadiah  Stiff  stepped  into  the  encampment,  and, 
stirring  the  embers  of  the  fire  with  a  piece  of  stick,  caused  a  bright 
flame  and  showers  of  sparks  to  shoot  upwards.  This  revealed  the 
fact  that  some  of  the  party  were  white  men,  so  Wapaw  lowered  his 
rifle.  A  single  glance  of  his  practised  eye  told  him  who  they 
were.  Laying  his  baud  suddenly  and  heavily  on  Roy's  shoulder 
he  pressed  him  down. 

"  Come,  let  us  go,"  he  said  quickly ;  "  I  must  see  these  men 
alo:je,  and  you  must  keep  close — you  must  not  look." 

He  said  the  latter  words  with  emphasis  ;  but  in  order  to  make 
sure  that  they  should  not  have  a  chance  of  looking,  he  led  his 
young  companions  to  a  point  whence  the  encampment  could  not  be 
seen,  and  left  them  there  with  strict  injunctions  not  to  quit  the 
spot  until  he  should  return. 

In  a  few  seconds  Wapaw  stepped  into  the  circle  of  light  where 
Robin  and  ^lis  party  were  all  assembled,  and  so  rapid  and  noise- 
less had  his  movements  been  that  he  was  in  the  midst  of  them 
almost  before  they  were  aware  of  his  approach. 

"  Wapaw  !"  exclaimed  Walter  in  surprise,  "  why  yon  seem  to 
have  dropped  from  the  clouds." 

"  Sure  it's  a  ghost  ye  must  be,"  cried  Larry. 

The  Indian  took  no  notice  of  these  remarks,  but  turned  to 
Robin,  who,  with  a  look  of  deep  anxiety,  said — 

"Have  'ee  seed  the  childer,  Wapaw?" 

"  They  are  safe,"  answered  the  Indian, 

"  Thank  God  for  that,"  cried  Robin,  while  a  sigh  of  relief  burst 
from  him ;  "  I  believe  ye,  Wapaw,  yer  a  true  man  an'  wouldn't  tell 
me  a  lie,  would  ye  ?" 


AT    SILTBB   LAKE   ONOB    UOBE. 


96 


derons  way 
desperate, 

5wan.   Roy 
aw  glanced 


>ment,  and, 
led  a  bright 
evealed  the 
lowered  his 
who  they 
's  shoulder 


The  tone  in  which  the  banter  said  this  implied  that  the  state- 
ment was  scarcely  a  true  index  to  his  feelings,  and  that  he  would 
be  glad  to  hear  Wapaw  assure  him  that  he  was  indeed  telling  the 
truth.  But  this  Indian  was  a  man  of  truthfulness,  and  did  not 
deem  it  necessary  to  repeat  his  assertion.  He  said,  however,  that 
he  would  go  and  fetch  the  children,  and  immediately  quitted  the 
camp.  Soon  after  he  returned  with  Boy  and  Nelly  ;  he  had  not 
told  them,  however,  who  the  strangers  were. 

When  Roy  first  caught  sight  of  his  father  he  gave  a  shout  of 
surprise,  and  stood  still  as  if  he  were  bewildered.  Nolly  uttered  a 
wild  scream,  and  rushed  forward  with  outstretched  arms.  Robin 
met  her  more  than  half  way,  and  the  next  moment  folded  his  long- 
Icst  little  one  to  his  bosom. 


these 


men 


er  to  make 
he  led  his 
:ould  not  be 
to  quit  the 

ight  where 
and  noise- 
st  of  them 

10  seem  to 


tamed  to 


•ellof  burst 
mldn't  tell 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


AT   SILVER   LAKE   ONCE   MOBE. 


T  were  needless  to  detail  all  that  was  said 
and  done  during  the  remainder  of  that 
night,  or,  rather,  morning,  for  day  began 
to  break  soon  after  the  happy  meeting 
narrated  in  the  last  chapter.  It  would 
require  more  space  than  we  can  afibrd  to 
tell  of  all  that  was  said  and  done  ;  how 
Robin  embraced  his  children  over  and  over 
again  in  the  strength  of  his  love,  and  thanked  God  in  the 
fervour  of  his  gratitude;  bow  Roy  and  Nelly  were  eager  to 
relate  all  that  bad  befallen  them  since  they  were  carried  away 
into  captivity,  in  a  much  shorter  time  than  such  a  long 
story  could  by  any  possibility  be  told ;  bow  Walter  rendered 
the  telling  of  it  much  more  difficult  by  frequent  interruptions  with 
eager  questions,  which  induced  divergencies  from  which  the  tale- 
tellers forgot  to  return  to  the  points  where  the  interruptions 
occurred  ;  how  Larry  O'Dowd  complicated  matters  by  sometimes 
Tolanteering  anecdotes  of  his  own  illustrative  of  points  similar  to 


V 


I 


^ 


MX: 


96 


BILTEB   LAVE. 


those  which  were  being  related;  how  Sing  always  cut  these 
anecdotes  short  with  a  facetious  poke  in  the  ribs,  which  caused 
Larry  to  howl ;  how  Btiflf  rendered  confusion  worse  confounded  by 
trying  to  cook  some  breakfast,  and  by  upsetting  the  whole  affair 
into  the  fire  ;  and  how  the  children  themselves  broke  in  on  their 
own  discourse  continually  with  sudden  and  enthusiastic  questions 
as  to  the  health  of  their  mother  and  the  welfare  of  the  live  stock  at 
Fort  Enterprise. 

All  this  cannot  be  described,  therefore  we  leave  it  to  the  vivid 
imagination  of  the  reader. 

"  Now,  comrades,"  said  Robin,  after  the  sun  had  risen,  after 
breakfast  had  been  re-cooked  and  eaten,  after  every  incident  had 
been  related  at  least  twice  over,  and  &her  every  conceivable  ques- 
tion had  been  asked  four  or  five  times — '*  now,  comrades,  it 
remains  for  us  to  fix  what  we'll  do." 

"  To  the  Fort,"  said  Larry  O'Dowd,  abruptly. 

"Ay — home,"  cried  Walter. 

"Oh  yes — home — home!"  exclaimed  Roy  and  Nelly  in  the 
same  breath. 

"  Ditto,"  observed  Obadiah  Stiff. 

Slugs  and  the  Black  Swan,  being  men  of  few  words,  said 
nothing,  but  nodded  approval. 

"  Well,  it's  quite  plain  that  we're  all  of  one  mind,"  resumed 
Robin,  "  nevertheless,  there  are  one  or  two  points  to  which  I  ax 
yer  attention.  In  the  first  place,  it's  now  near  the  end  of 
November.  Fort  Enterprise,  in  a  straight  line,  is  more  nor  three 
weeks'  march  fi-om  hereaway.  Our  provisions  is  low.  When  I 
left  the  Fort  provisions  was  low  there  too,  an'  if  my  brother  Jeff 
haiut  had  more  nor  his  usual  luck  in  huntin'  they'll  be  lower  yet 
before  long.  Now,  I  think  it  would  be  better  to  go  back  to  Silver 
Lake  for  a  week  or  so,  hunt  an'  fish  there  till  we've  got  a  good 
supply,  make  noo  sleds,  load  'em  chock  full,  an'  then — ho  1  for 
home.     What  say  ye  to  that,  comrades  ?" 

As  every  one  assented  readily  to  this  plan,  they  proceeded  at 
once  to  carry  it  into  execution.     At  first,  indeed,  Nelly  looked  a 


— r^;fc 


AT  8ILTEB   LAKE    ONOE    HOBE. 


97 


little  disappointed,  saying  that  she  wanted  to  get  to  her  darlicg 
mother  \7ith0at  delay  ;  but,  on  Walter  pointing  out  to  her  that  it 
would  only  delay  matters  a  week  or  so,  and  that  it  would  enable 
the  whole  party  to  rest  and  recruit,  and  give  Wapaw  time  to  re- 
cover thoroughly  from  his  wounds,  she  became  reconciled,  and  put 
on  her  snow-shoes  to  return  to  Silver  Lake  with  some  degree  of 
cheerfuhess ;  and  when,  in  the  course  of  that  (^ly's  walk,  she 
began  to  tell  her  father  of  all  the  beauties  and  wonders  of  Silver 
Lake,  she  was  not  only  reconciled  but  delighted  to  return. 

'<  Oh !  father,"  said  she,  as  they  walked  briskly  through  the 
forest,  "  you've  no  notion  what  a  be-utiful  place  Silver  Lake  is. 
It's  so  clear,  and  so — so— oh  I  I  don't  know  how  to  tell  you  ;  so 
like  the  fairy  places  Walter  used  to  tell  us  of,  with  clear  water 
and  high  cliffs,  and  the  clouds  shining  up  at  the  clouds  shining 
down,  and  two  suns — one  below  and  another  above.  And  then 
the  hut  1  we  made  it  all  ourselves." 

"  What  1  made  the  trees  and  all  ?"  said  Robin,  with  a  smile. 

"  No,  of  course  not  the  trees ;  but  we  cut  the  trees  and  piled 
'em  up,  and  spread  the  brushwood,  and — and — then  the  fish  !  we 
caught  sucA  big  ones." 

"How  big,  Nelly  ?"  '    •  " '; 

"  Oh,  ever  so  big  I" 

"  How  big  may  that  be  ?" 

"Well,  some  were  so  long  (measuring  off  the  size  on  her 
arm),  an'  some  near  as  long  as  my  leg — an'  they  were  good 
to  eat  too — so  good!  you've  no  notion;  but  you'll  see  and 
taste  'em  too.  Then  there's  the  shooskin'  1  Did  you  ever  shoosk, 
&ther?" 

"  No,  lass — ^leastways  I  don't  remember,  if  I  did." 

"But  you  know  what  it  is  ?" 

"  To  be  sure,  Nelly;  ha'nt  I  seed  ye  do  it  often  on  the  slopes 
at  Fort  Enterprise  ?" 

"  Well,  the  shooskin'  here  is  far,  far  better.  The  first  time 
Roy  did  it  he  said  it  nearly  banged  all  his  bones  to  pieces — 
yes,  he  said  he  felt  as  if  his  backbone  was  shoved  up  into  his 


X 


08 


BILVKB  LAKE. 


brain ;  and  I  Bometimes  thought  it  would  squeeze  all  my  ribs 
together.     Oh,  it  is  so  nice  1    Yon  shall  try  it,  father." 

Robin  langhed  heartily  at  this,  and  remarker^.  that  he  woxkld 
be  very  glad  to  try  it,  though  he  had  no  particular  desire  to  have 
his  ribs  sqaeezed  together,  or  his  backbone  shoved  up  into  his 
brain  1 

Then  Nelly  went  on  with  great  animation  and  volubility  to  tell 
of  the  trapping  of  the  bear,  and  the  snaring  of  rabbitS;  and  the 
catching  of  fish,  and  of  Roy's  peculiar  method  of  wading  into  the 
lake  for  ducks,  and  many  other  things. 

Roy,  meanwhile,  entertained  Walter  and  Larry  O'Dowd  with  a 
somewhat  similar  account  of  their  doings  daring  tUo  months  of 
their  residence  in  that  wild  region ;  and  thus  the  journey  was 
beguiled,  so  that  the  time  seemed  to  pass  on  swallows'  wings. 

Towards  evening  the  party  approached  the  spot  where  Silver 
Lake  had  first  burst  upon  the  enraptured  gaze  of  the  wandering 
pair.  As  they  drew  near,  Roy  and  Nelly  hurried  on  in  advance, 
and,  mounting  the  fallen  tree  on  which  they  had  formerly  tested, 
waved  to  the  others  to  come  on,  and  shouted  for  glee.  And  well 
might  they  shout,  for  the  evening  happened  to  be  brighter  and 
calmer,  if  possible,  than  the  one  on  which  they  first  saw  the  lake. 
The  rolling  clouds  were  whiter,  *^o,  and  the  waters  looked  more 
silvery  than  ever.  V     -. 

The  exclamations  of  delight,  and  the  looks  of  admiration  with 
which  the  glorious  scene  was  greeted  by  the  hunters  when  they 
came  up,  gratified  the  hearts  of  Roy  and  Nelly  very  much. 

"  Oh,  how  I  wish  mother  was  here  to  see  it !"  cried  Nelly. 

" Aint  that  a  place  for  a  king  to  live  in,  daddy?"  said  Boy, 
enthusiastically. 

"  So  'tis,  lad,  so  'tis — leastwise  it's  a  goodish  spot  for  a  hunter. 
How  say  you.  Slugs  ?"  ,   .^ 

Slugs  smiled  grimly,  and  nodded  his  head.  '   ' 

<*  Would  the  Redman  like  to  pitch  his  wigwam  there  ?"  said 
Robin,  addressing  the  Black  Swan. 

"  He  has  pitched  his  wigwam  here  before,"  replied  the  Blaok 


^ 


AT    BIIiVIBB   LAKE    ONCE   MOBE. 


99 


Swan,  softly.     "  When  he  first  took  the  White  Swan  home  to  be 
his  mate,  he  came  to  hnnt  here." 

''  Och  !  is  it  the  honeymoon  ye  spint  here  ?"  broke  in  Lany. 
"  Fail,  it's  a  pvirty  spot  for  courtin',  and  no  mistake.  Is  that  a 
beehire  over  there  ?"  he  added,  pointing  across  the  lake. 

"Why  that's  our  hut — om palace,"  cried  Nell,  with  gleeful 
look. 

"  Then  the  sooner  we  get  down  to  it,  and  have  snpper,  the 
better,"  obserred  Walter,  "for  we'll  have  to  work  hard  to- 
morrow." 

"  Come  along,  then,"  cried  Robin,  "  an'  go  you  ahead,  Roy  ; 
beat  the  track,  and  show  us  the  way." 

Boy  accepted  the  position  of  honour.  Nelly  followed  him,  and 
the  whole  band  marched  off  in  single  file  along  the  shores  of 
Silver  Lake.  They  soon  reached  the  hut,  and  here  again  Nelly 
found  many  interesting  points  to  dilate  upon.  She  poured  her 
words  into  willing  and  sympathetic  ears,  so  that  she  monopolized 
nearly  all  the  talk  during  the  time  that  Lany  O'Dowd  was 
preparing  supper. 

When  that  meal  was  being  eaten  the  conversation  bocame  more 
general.  Plans  were  discussed  as  to  the  intended  procedure  on 
the  morrow,  and  various  courses  of  action  fixed.  After  that,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  the  pipes  came  out,  and  while  these  were  being 
smoked,  only  the  talkative  members  of  the  party  kept  up  the 
conversation  at  intervals.  Boy  and  Nelly,  having  exhausted  all 
they  had  to  say,  began  to  feel  desperately  sleepy,  and  the  latter, 
having  laid  her  head  on  her  father's  knee,  fell  sound  asleep  in 
that  position.  Soon  the  pipes  were  smoked  out,  the  fire  was 
replenished,  the  blankets  unrolled ;  and  in  a  very  brief  period  of 
time  the  whole  party  was  in  a  state  of  happy  unconsciousness, 
with  the  exception  of  poor  Wapaw,  whose  wounds  made  him 
rather  restless,  and  the  Black  Swan,  whose  duty  it  was  to  take 
the  first  watch ;  for  it  was  deemed  right  to  set  a  watch,  lest  by 
any  chance  the  Indians  should  have  followed  the  hunters'  tracks, 
though  this  was  not  probable. 

h2 


1 


T 


BILTEB  LAKB. 

Next  morning  Robin  aroused  the  sledpers  somewhat  abruptly  by 
shooting  a  grey  hen  with  his  rifle  from  the  tent  door. 

*•  There's  breakfast  for  you  and  me,  Nelly,  at  any  rate, " 
remarked  the  hunter,  as  he  went  djwn  to  the  lake  to  secure  his 
bird. 

"  An'  won't  there  be  the  bones  and  feathers  for  the  rest  of  ns  ?" 
observed  Larry,  yawning,  "so  we  won't  starve  this  day,  any- 
how." 

In  a  few  minutes  every  man  was  actively  engaged  in  work  of 
some  sort  or  other.  Robin  and  Walter  prepared  fishing  lines 
from  some  pieces  of  buckskin  parchment ;  Black  Swan  and  Slugs 
went  out  to  cut  wood  for  making  sledges;  Stiff  repaired  the 
snow-shoes  of  the  party,  or  rather  assisted  Nelly  in  this  operation; 
and  Larry  attended  to  the  preparation  of  breakfast.  Wapaw  was 
the  only  one  who  lay  still,  it  being  thought  better  to  make  him 
rest,  and  get  strong  for  the  approaching  journey. 

During  the  course  of  the  day  the  lines  were  tried,  and  a  good 
number  of  fish  caught.  Slugs  also  went  off  in  search  of  deer, 
and  returned  in  the  evening  with  a  largo  stag  on  his  broad 
shoulders.  This  raised  the  spirits  of  the  party  greatly,  and  they 
ieasted  that  night,  with  much  rejoicing,  on  venison,  marrowbones, 
and  broiled  fish  1 

Thus  they  spent  their  time  for  several  days.  One  party  wen* 
regularly  every  morning  to  fish  in  the  ice-holes  ;  another  party 
roamed  the  woods,  and  returned  with  grouse,  or  rabbits,  and 
sometimes  with  deer ;  while  some  remained,  part  of  the  day  at 
least,  in  the  hut,  mending  snow-shoes  and  mocassins,  and  making 
other  preparations. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  busy  labour,  the  shoosking  was  not  for- 
gotten. One  day  Robin  said  to  his  little  daughter,  at  breakfast, 
that  as  they  had  got  nearly  enough  of  provisions  for  the  journey 
they  would  take  a  holiday  and  go  and  have  a  shoosk.  The  pro- 
posal was  hailed  with  delight,  and  the  whole  party  went  off  with 
the  new  sledges,  and  spent  the  forenoon  in  sliding  and  tumbling 
down  the  hills  like  very  children. 


'y^" 


THE   HAPPIEST   MEETINQ    OF   AIX. 


101 


raptly  by 

ly  rate," 
iecare  his 

it  of  U8  ?" 
iay,  any- 

n  work  of 
ihing  linos 
and  Slugs 
paired  the 
operation; 
'^apaw  was 
make  him 

»nd  a  good 
jh  of  deer, 
his  broad 
,  and  they 
xrowbones, 

party  went 
other  party 
ibbits,  and 
the  day  at 
EUid  making 

NAB  not  for- 
,t  breakfast, 
the  journey 
,  The  pro- 
ent  off  with 
id  tumbling 


At  last  everything  was  ready  for  a  start.  The  provisions  were 
tightly  fastened  on  the  sledges,  which  were  to  be  drawn  by  each 
of  the  men  in  turn.  Snow  shoes  were  put  on,  guns  and  bows 
looked  to  and  shouldered,  and  on  a  bright,  frosty  December  morn- 
ing the  hunters  left  the  hut,  struck  into  the  woods,  and  set  out  for 
Fort  Euterprise. 

At  the  top  of  the  slope,  beside  the  fallen  tree,  they  stopped 
with  one  consent  and  (,'azed  back  ;  and  there  Nelly  took  her 
last  sad  look  at  Silver  Iiake,  and  sorrowfully  said  her  last 
farewell. 

CHAPTER  XXm. 

.■     V    ■    C  THE    HAPPIEST   MEETING   OF   ALL, 

*HE  snow  was  driving  through  the  forests 
and  over  the  plains  of  the  Noiih- American 
wilderness ;  the  wind  was  shrieking  among 
the  tree- tops,  and  whirling  the  diift  in 
great  clouds  high  up  into  the  frosty  air ; 
and  the  sun  was  setting  in  a  glow  of  fiery 
red,  when,  on  the  last  day  of  the  year, 
_  Bobin  Gore  and  his  followers  came  to  an 

abrupt  halt,  and,  with  one  consent,  admitted  that  "  the  thing  was 
impossible." 

"  We  can't  do  it,  boys,"  said  Robin,  resting  his  rifle  against  a 
tree ;  "  so  it's  o'  no  use  to  try.    The  Fort  is  good  ton  miles  off, 

an'  the  children  are  dead  beat " 

"  No  they  aint,"  interrupted  Roy,  whose  tone  and  aspect,  how- 
ever, proved  that  his  father's  statement  was  true ;  "  at  least  I'm 
not  beat  yet — I'm  game  for  two  or  three  hours  more." 

"  Well,  lad,  p'raps  ye  are,  but  Nelly  aint ;  so  we'll  camp  here, 
an'  take  'em  by  surprise  in  the  morning  early." 

Nelly,  who  had  been  carried  on  the  backs  of  those  who  had 
broadest  shoulders  during  the  last  dozen  miles,  smiled  faintly 
when  spoken  to,  and  said  she  was  "  ve-y  s'eepy !" 


V 


•mp 


loa 


8II.TBB   lAXa. 


So  they  set  to  work  in  the  nsnal  style,  and  were  soon  com. 
fortably  seated  in  their  snowy  encampment. 

Next  morning  before  dawn  Robin  awoke  them. 

"Hoi"  he  cried,  "get  up  lads,  look  alive  I  A  happy  New 
Year  to  'ee  all,  yoang  an'  old,  red  an'  white.  Kiss  me,  Nell 
dear— a  shake  o'  yer  paw,  Hoy.  An'  it's  a  good  New  Year's 
day,  too,  in  moro  ways  than  one,  praise  the  Almighty  for 
that." 

The  whole  party  was  astir  immediately,  and  that  feeling  of 
kindly  brotherhood  which  nsnally  pervades  the  hearts  of  men  on 
the  first  day  of  a  new  year,  induced  them  to  shake  hands  heartily 
all  round. 

"  You'll  eat  your  New  Year's  dinner  at  home  after  all,"  said 
Walter  to  Nelly. 

'<  Sure,  on'  it's  a  happy  'ooman  yer  mother'll  be  this  good 
day,"  said  Larry,  as  he  stirred  up  the  embers  of  the  fire,  and 
blew  them  into  a  flame. 

The  kettle  was  boiled,  and  a  good  breakfast  eaten,  because, 
although  it  is  usually  the  custom  for  hunters  to  start  on  their 
day's  journey,  and  accomplish  a  good  many  miles  of  it  before 
breakfast,  they  had  consideration  for  Roy  and  Nelly,  both  of  whom 
were  still  suffering  a  little  from  the  fatigue  of  the  previous  day. 
They  hoped  to  be  at  Fort  Enterprise  in  about  four  hours,  and 
were  anxious  to  arrive  fresh. 

The  sun  was  rising  when  they  reached  the  top  of  a  ridge, 
whence  they  could  obtain  a  distanl.  view  of  the  Fort. 

«  Here  we  are  at  home,  Nelly,"  said  Robin,  stooping  down  to 
kiss  his  child  on  the  forehead. 

"  Darling,  darlitig  mother  1"  was  all  that  poor  Nelly  could  say, 
as  she  tried  in  vain  to  see  the  Fort  through  the  tears  which  sprang 
to  her  eyes. 

"  Don't  you  see  it,  Nell  ?"  said  Roy,  passing  his  arm  round 
his  sister's  waist. 

"  No,  I  don't,"  cried  Nelly,  brushing  the  tears  away  ;  *'  oh,  do 
let  us  go  on  I" 


L-,, 


■.•-imimm»"i ''     --. 


THK    HAPPISBT    HKETINO   OF   AIX.  108 

Robin    «tted  her  on  the  head,  and  at  onoe  resumed  the  mi.  jh. 

«  »•  •  • 

That  morning  Mrs.  Gjre  rose  from  her  bed  about  the  saddest 
woman  in  the  land.  Her  mind  flow  back  to  the  last  New  Year's 
day,  when  her  children  were  lost  ti  her,  as  she  feared,  for  ever. 
The  very  fact  that  people  are  npually  more  jocose,  and  hearty, 
and  happy,  on  the  first  day  of  the  year,  was  sn^ciont  to  make  her 
more  sorrowful  than  nsnal ;  so  she  got  np  and  sighed,  and  then, 
not  being  a  woman  of  great  self-restraint,  she  wept. 

In  a  few  minutes  she  dried  her  eyes,  and  took  np  her  Bible, 
and,  as  she  read  its  blessed  pages,  she  felt  comfort — such  as  the 
world  can  noither  give  nor  take  away — gradually  stealing  over  her 
soul.  When  she  mot  her  kinsman  and  his  friends  at  breakfast 
she  was  comparatively  cheei-ful,  and  returned  their  hearty  saluta- 
tion with  some  show  of  a  reciprocal  spirit. 

"  Jefi*,"  said  Mrs.  Gore,  with  a  slight  sigh,  "it's  a  year,  this 
day,  since  my  two  darlings  were  lost  in  the  snow." 

"  D'ye  say  so  ?"  observed  Jeff,  r,s  ho  sat  down  to  his  morning 
meal,  and  commenced  eating  with  iinch  voracity. 

Jeff  wus  not  an  unkind  man,  but  he  was  very  stupid.  He  said 
nothing  more  for  some  time,  but,  after  consuming  nearly  a  pound 
of  venison  steak,  he  observed  suddenly — 

"  Wall,  I  guess  it  wor  abad  business  that — wom't  it,  missus  ?" 

"  It  was,"  responded  Mrs.  Gore ;  and,  feeling  that  she  had  no 
hope  of  meeting  with  sympathy  from  Jeff,  she  relapsed  into 
silence.    Aftei  a  time  she  said — 

"  But  we  must  get  up  a  feast,  Jeff.  It  won't  do  to  let  New 
Year's  day  pass  without  a  good  dinner." 

"  That's  true  as  gosp'l,"  said  Jeff.  "  Feed  np  is  my  motto, 
always.  It  don't  much  matter  wot  turn's  up,  if  ye  don't  feed  np 
yer  fit  for  nothin' ;  but,  contrairy-wise,  if  ye  do  feed  np,  why  yer 
ready  for  anythin'  or  nothin',  as  the  case  may  be." 

Having  given  vent  to  this  sentiment,  Jeff  finished  his  meal 
with  a  prolonged  draught  of  tea. 

"  Wall,  now,"  said  hi,  filling  his  pipe,  "  we've  got  enough  o' 


■(■imC 


104 


aiLTUB    LAKI. 


deer's  meat  an'  other  things  to  make  a  pretty  fair  feast,  misBoa, 
bnt  my  comradoH  and  me  will  go  an'  try  to  git  somethin'  fresh  for 
dinner.  If  we  git  nothin'  else  we'll  git  a  appetite,  and  that's 
worth  a  good  long  march  any  day  ;  so,  lads,  if " 

Jeff's  speech  was  iutorrnpted  hero  by  a  sudden  and  tremendous 
outburst  of  barking  on  the  part  of  the  dogs  of  the  establishment. 
He  bprang  up  and  hastened  to  the  door,  followed  by  his  com- 
panions and  Mrs.  Gore. 

"  Injuns,  mayhap ;  see  to  yer  guns,  boys,  wo  can  niver  be 
sure  o'  the  riptiles." 

♦'  They're  fciendly,"  observed  one  of  Jeff's  friends,  as  they  stood 
at  the  Fort  gate;  " enamies  never  come  on  in  that  straight- 
forward fashion." 

"Not  so  sure  o'  that,"  said  Jeff.  "I've  seen  redskins  do 
Fomethin'  o'  that  kind  when  they  meant  mischief ;  but,  if  my  eyes 
aint  telling  lies,  I'd  say  there  were  white  men  there." 

"  Ay,  an'  young  folk,  too,"  remarked  one  of  the  others. 

"  Young  folk  I"  exclaiming  Mrs.  Gore,  as  she  shaded  her  eyes 
from  the  bun  with  her  baud,  and  gazed  earnestly  at  the  band 
which  was  approaching. 

Suddenly  one  of  them  ran  a  little  in  advance  of  the  rest,  and 
waved  a  handkerchief.  The  figure  jras  a  small  one.  A  faint 
cheer  was  heard  in  the  distance,  itwas  followed,  or  rather  ac- 
companied, by  a  loud,  manly,  and  well-known  shout. 

Mrs.  Gore  grew  pale,  and  would  have  fallen  to  the  ground  had 
not  Jeff  caught  and  supported  her. 

"Why,  I  (}o  declare  it's  Bobin— an' — eht  if  there  beantthe 
children  wi'  'im !" 

The  advancing  party  broke  into  a  run  as  he  spoke,  another 
loud  cheer  burst  forth,  and  in  a  few  seconds  Nelly  was  locked 
once  more  in  her  dear  mother's  arms. 


*i"**iV*<P 


'  Mn.  Oore,  ai  «lie  ahaded  her  eye*  irom  the  sun  with  her  hand,  gazwl  earneitly  »t  the 
band  which  was  approaching."— Poff*  104. 


—  ■  inHmlMmitii     "-■ ■-■= — • 


,LlllllllH.lii'iillimilWi>|i 


ii'"-  -fiff'ty^lfciii 


'm^^mmwft  !i.^'  .my 


m^mmfm 


106 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

CONCLUSION. 

T  iH  not  necessary  to  say  that  there  was 
joy — powerful,  inoxpreHsiblo — within  the 
wooden  walls  of  Fort  Enterprise  on  that 
New  Years  morning,  and  a  New  Year's 
hymn  of  praise  welled  up  continually  from 
the  glad  mother's  heart,  finding  expression 
sometimes  in  her  voice,  but  oftener  in  her 
eyes,  as  she  gazed  upon  tho  faces  of  her 
dear  ones,  the  lost  and  found. 

The  flag  at  Fort  Enterprise,  which  had  not  flaunted  its  red 
field  from  the  flagstaff  since  the  sad  day — that  day  twelve  months 
exactly — when  the  children  were  lost,  once  more  waved  gaily  in 
the  frosty  air,  and  glowed  in  the  beams  of  the  wintry  sun.  The 
sound  of  joyful  revelry,  which  had  not  been  heard  within  the  walls 
of  the  fort  for  a  long,  long  year,  once  again  burst  forth  with  such 
energy  that  one  might  have  been  led  to  suppose  its  being  pent  up 
80  long  had  intensified  its  power. 

The  huge  fireplace  roared,  and  blazed,  and  crackled,  with  a 
log  so  massive  that  no  other  Yule  log  in  the  known  world  could 
have  held  a  candle  to  it  1  and  in,  on,  and  around  that  fire  were 
pots,  pans,  and  goblets  innumerable,  all  of  which  hissed,  and 
spluttered,  and  steamed  at  Larry  O'Dowd,  as  if  with  glee  at  the 
sight  of  his  honest  face  once  again  presiding  over  his  own  peculiar 
domain.  And  the  parlour  of  Fort  Enterprise — that  parlour  which 
we  have  mentioned  as  being  Robin's  dining-room  and  drawing- 
room,  besides  being  his  bedroom  and  his  kitchen — was  converted 
into  a  leafy  bower  hy  means  of  pine  branches  and  festooned  ever- 
greens, and  laid  out  for  a  feast  the  Lke  of  which  had  not  been  seen 
there  for  many  a  day,  and  which  was  transcendently  more  magnifi- 
cent than  that  memorable  New  Year's  day  dinner  which  had  been 
cooked,  but  not  eaten,  just  three  hundrod  and  sixty- five  days  before. 


aj^w-v  iiii.<iiiiiipiaitn<liiii/iiiia.i[iii 


MiMiMMla 


w^ 


106 


SILVEB   LAKE. 


In  short,  everything  in  and  about  Fort  Enterprise  bore  evidence 
that  its  inmates  meant  to  rejoice  and  make  merry  on  that  first 
day  of  a  new  year,  as  it  was  meet  they  should  do  nnder  such 
favourable  circumstances. 

Jeff  Gore  had  shot  a  deer  not  many  days  before,  and  one  of  its 
fat  haunches  Tfas  to  be  the  great  dish  of  the  feast ;  but  Robin 
said  that  it  was  not  enough :  so,  after  the  first  congratulations  were 
over,  he  and  Walter,  and  Slugs,  and  Black  Swan,  set  off  into  the 
forest,  and  ere  long  returned  with  several  brace  of  grouse,  and  a 
few  rabbits.  Roy,  with  a  very  sly  look,  had  asked  leave  to  go 
and  have  a  walk  on  snowshoes  in  the  woods  with  Nelly  before 
dinner,  but  his  father  threatened  to  lock  him  up  in  the  cellar,  so 
he  consented  to  remain  at  home  for  that  day  and  assist  his 
mother. 

"  Now,  Nelly,  you  and  Roy  will  come  help  me  to  prepare  the 
feast,"  said  Mrs.  Gore,  whose  eyes  were  swollen  with  joyful 
weeping  till  they  looked  like  a  couple  of  inflamed  oysters ;  "  not 
that  there's  much  to  do,  for,  now  that  Larry  is  come  back,  we'll 
leave  everything  to  him  except  ihe  pl-plum-poo-poo-diag — oh  I 
my  darling  !" 

Here  Mrs.  Gore  broke  down  for  the  fifteenth  time,  and,  catching 
Nelly  to  her  bosom,  hugged  her. 

"  Darling  mother  I "  sighed  Nelly. 

"  Och  !  but  it's  a  sight  good  for  sore  eyes,  anyhow,"  exclaimed 
Larry,  looking  up  from  his  occupation  among  the  steaming  pots 
and  pans. 

Wapaw,  who  was  the  only  other  member  of  the  party  who 
chose  to  remain  in  the  house  during  the  urenoon  of  that  day,  sat 
smuking  his  pipe  in  the  chimney  coirs!  and  regarded  the  whole 
scene  with  that  look  of  stoical,  solemnivj  which  is  peculiar  to 
North  American  Indians. 

"  Come,  I  say,  this'U  never  do,  mother,"  cried  Roy,  going  to 
the  flour-barrel  which  stood  in  a  corner.  "  If  we're  to  help  you 
wi'  that  'ere  poodin',  let's  have  at  it  at  once." 

Thus  admonished,  Mrs.  Gore  and  her  recovered  progeny  set  to 


OONOLUBION. 


107 


set  to 


work  and  fabricated  a  plam-pudding,  whieh  was  nearly  as  hard, 
almost  as  heavy  as,  and  much  larger  than  a  sixty- four  pound  cannon 
ball.  It  wonld  have  killed  with  indigestion  half  a  regiment  of 
artillery,  but  it  could  not  affect  the  hardened  frames  of  these  men 
of  the  backwoods  I 

In  course  of  time  the  board  was  spread,  the  viands  smoked 
upon  it,  and  the  united  party  set  to  work.  Mrs.  Gore  sat  at  the 
head  of  the  table,  with  Nelly  on  one  side  and  Roy  on  the  othei 
Robin  sat  at  the  foot,  supported  by  the  White  Swan  on  his  right 
and  "Wapaw  on  his  left.  Ranged  between  these  were  Walter, 
Slugs,  the  Black  Swan,  Jeff  Gore,  Obadiah  Stiff,  the  two  other 
strangers  who  came  with  Jeff,  and  Larry  O'Dowd — for  Larry  acted 
the  part  of  cook  only,  and  did  not  pretend  to  •'  wait."  After  he 
had  placed  the  viands  on  the  table,  he  sat  down  with  the  rest. 
These  backwoodsmen  ignored  waiters.  They  passed  their  plates 
from  hand  to  hand,  and  when  anything  was  wanted  by  any  one  he 
rose  to  fetch  it  himself. 

After  the  plates  were  cleared  away,  the  tea-kettle  was  put  on 
the  table.  In  some  parts  of  the  backwoods  spiriis  are  (fortunately) 
80  diificnit  to  procure,  that  hunters  and  trappers  live  for  many 
months  without  tasting  a  drop,  and  get  into  the  habit  of  doing 
entirely  without  intoxicating  drink  of  any  kind.  Robin  had  no 
spirits  except  animal  spirits,  but  he  had  plenty  of  tea.  When  it 
was  poured  out  into  huge  cups,  which  might  have  been  styled 
small  slop-basins,  and  sweetened  and  passed  round,  Robin  applied 
his  knuckles  to  the  table  to  command  silence. 

"  Friends,"  said  he,  "  I  niver  wos  much  o'  a  speeohifi'jr,  but  I 
could  always  manage  to  blurt  out  my  meanin'  somehow.  Wot  I've 
got  to  say  to  you  this  day  is,  I'm  thankful  to  the  Almighty  for 
givin  me  back  my  childer,  an'  I'm  right  glad  to  see  ye  all  under 
my  roof  this  Noo  Year's  day,  and  so's  the  wife,  /  know— aint  ye, 
Molly,  my  daar  ?" 

To  this  appeal  Mrs.  G.  replied  with  a  hysterical  yc-es,  and  an 
application  of  her  apron  to  the  inflamed  oysters.  Robin  con- 
tinued— 


■«pfpppmnm9*f«pinf 


108 


BILTEB   IiAKB. 


"  Well,  I'm  sorry  there  aint  nothin'  stronger  in  the  fort  to  pve 
'ee  than  tea,  bat  for  my  part  I  find  it  strong  enough  to  keep  np 
my  spirits,  an'  yer  all  heartily  welcome  to  swig  buckets-full  o' 
that.  There's  an  old  fiddle  in  the  store.  If  any  o'  ye  can  scrape 
a  tune,  we'll  have  a  dance.     If  not,  why  we'll  sing  and  be  jolly." 

This  speech  was  followed  up  by  another  from  Obadiah  Stiff, 
who,  with  a  countenance  of  the  deepest  solemnity,  requested  per- 
mission to  make  a  few  brief  observations. 

"  Friends,"  said  he,  turning  the  quid  of  tobacco  which  usually 
graced  his  right  cheek  into  his  left,  "  It's  not  every  day  a  man's 
got  a  chance  o' — o'  wot  I  was  agoin'  to  om&r  :.  is,  that  men 
who  are  so  much  indebted  to  their  much-iespectcd  host  as — as 
(Nelly  happened  to  sneeze  at  this  point,  and  distracted  Stiff's 
attention)  as  — yes,  I  guess  we  ha'nt  often  got  the  chance  to  chase 
the  redskins,  and— and.  In  short,  without  makin'  an  onnecessairy 
phrase  about  it — I'm  happy  to  say  that  /  can  play  the  fiddle,  so 
here's  luck." 

Mr.  Stiff  sat  down  abruptly  and  drained  his  cup  at  a  draught. 

*'  Pr'aps,"  said  Larry,  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  *'  Mister  Stiff 
would  favour  the  company  wi'  a  scng  before  we  commence  to  cut 
capers." 

"  Hear,  hear ! "  from  Walter. 

'♦  Hurrah ! "  from  Roy. 

Mr.  Stiff  cleared  his  throat  and  began  at  once.  The  tune  was 
so  dolorous,  and  the  voice  so  unmusical,  that  in  any  other  cir- 
cumstances it  would  have  been  intolerable,  but  there  wen  '.iv«?'3 
in  it  touching  upon  "  good  fellowship"  which  partially  reo  ft.  J 
it,  and  in  the  last  verse  there  was  reference  made  to  "  hoi't  ,  ' 
and  "  absent  friends,"  which  rendered  it  a  complete  success,  in- 
somuch that  it  was  concluded  amid  rapturous  cheering,  so  true  is 
it,  ad  Walter  observed,  that  "  one  touch  of  nature  covers  a  mul- 
titude of  sins ! " 

"  Let's  drink  to  absent  friends  an'  owld  Ireland,"  cried  Larry, 
filling  his  cup  and  pushing  the  kettle  round. 

This  was  drunk  with  enthusiasm,  and  was  followed  by  a  sac- 


n.mntujtjia  iii|  in^jLiJiufc.M'-'Wlfafci.- 


^^saarrsja^ 


OONOLUSION.  109 

cession  of  toasts  and  songs,  which  were  drunk  and  snng  not  ftt 
the  table,  but  round  the  fire,  to  which  the  party  withdrew  in  order 
to  enjoy  their  pipes  more  thoroughly.  Then  followed  a  number 
of  anecdotes  of  stories — some  true,  some  doubtful,  and  some 
fabricated — which  were  listened  to  with  deep  interest,  not  only 
by  Roy  and  Nelly,  but  by  the  whole  party,  including  the  Indians, 
who  listened  intently,  with  faces  like  owls,  although  they  did  not 
understand  a  word  that  was  said. 

Many  of  these  stories  were  so  touching  that  poor  Mrs.  Gore's 
eyes  became  more  iuflamed  and  more  oyster-like  than  ever. 
Nelly,  too,  became  sympathetic,  and  her  eyes  were  similarly 
affected. 

When  the  evening  was  pretty  well  advanced,  the  violin  was 
sent  for  and  tuned,  and  Stiff  turned  out  to  be  a  veij  fair  player 
of  Scotch  reels  ;  so  the  party  laid  aside  their  pipes,  cleared  the 
floor,  and  began  to  dance. 

It  was  rough  but  hearty  dancing.  Each  dancer  composed  his 
own  steps  on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  but  executed  them  with  a 
degree  of  precision  and  violence  that  would  have  caused  civilized 
dancing  masters  to  blush  with  shame  and  envy.  Mrs.  Gore  and 
Nelly  danced  too,  weeping  the  while  with  joy,  and  so  did  the 
White  Swan,  but  her  performances  were  peculiar.  She  danced 
with  a  slowness  of  manner  and  a  rigidity  of  person  that  are  utterly 
indescribable.  She  looked  as  if  all  her  joints  had  become  in- 
flexible except  those  of  her  knees,  and  her  arms  hung  straight 
down  at  her  sides,  while  she  pendulated  about  the  floor  and  gazed 
at  the  rafbers  in  deep  solemnity. 

How  they  did  keep  it  up,  to  be  sure  I  Men  of  the  backwoods 
find  it  no  easy  matter  to  fatigue  their  muscles  or  exhaust  their 
spirits,  so  they  danced  all  night,  and  a  considerable  portion  of 
next  morning  too.  Long  before  they  gave  in,  however,  the  females 
were  obliged  to  retire.  They  lay  down  on  their  rude  couches 
without  taking  the  trouble  to  undress,  and  in  a  few  moments  after 
were  sound  asleep — Nelly  locked  in  her  mother's  arms,  with  their 
two  cheeks  touching,  their  dishevelled  hair  mingling,  and  a  few 


/«" 


110 


BILTBB  LAKB. 


tAirs  welling  from  their  inflamed  eyes,  and  mixing  as  they  flowed 
slowly  down  their  nnited  noses.  Sleeping  thus,  the  mother 
dreamed  of  home,  and  Nelly  dreamed  of  Silver  Lake. 

•  •  •  • 

Reader,  our  tale  is  told.  We  have  not  space  to  tell  of  what 
befel  Robin  Gore  and  his  family  in  after  life,  but  we  may  remark, 
in  conclusion,  that  although  Robin  stoutly  refused  to  go  back  to 
civilization,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  civilization  considerately 
advanced  to  him,  and  the  wild  region,  which  was  once  a  dense 
forest  around  Fort  Enterprise,  finally  became  (to  Mrs.  Gore's 
inexpressible  joy)  a  flourishing  settlement,  in  v^hich  were  heard 
the  sounds  of  human  industry,  and  the  tinkle  of  the  Sabbath  bell. 

B.  M.  BiSdJiSTYKS. 


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